Down the Deua 2013

Sunday 14 - Wednesday 17 April 2013
Led by Len

Words by Karen M
Photos by Brian, Chris and Bob

On Sunday 14 April 2013, 8 Batemans Bay Bushwalkers set out to backpack the historic Deua River Bridle Trail from Alpine towards Bendethera, and return. The 100km drive into Alpine was the first adventure. 3 x 4WDs tackled the steep up and down slopes along the notoriously treacherous Merricumbene and Mongamulla Fire Trails which run off Little Sugarloaf Road west of Moruya. Fortunately the trails were bone dry, but it still took us nearly 4 hours to get to our destination at Alpine.

Alpine is an original historic homestead on the banks of the Deua River, built by Lester and Terry Blanchard in 1922. However, it's the current owner we must thank for allowing us to camp on the property on the first and last night of the walk. It's just amazing how early settlers managed to build their homes and farm these remote properties.

The following comes from an account by May Smith who was a regular visitor to Alpine, written in 1997.

"The only way into the area was down a mountain, very steep in places. There was a track just about wide enough for a horse and all materials for building the house had to be packed down there on horse. Two doors were taken down that way, one on each side of a horse. The galvanized iron for the roof was probably taken in on a slide.

Lester had cattle at Alpine. He grew corn and sold any surplus. It had to be brought out on pack horses and sold around the district. They kept pigs and sold them when small." (The Deua River Track, compiled by Peter C Smith)


Evening at Alpine Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Next morning Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Getting ready to leave Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

On the first day we walked 10km, mostly along the river, but shortcutting across river bends, crosing the river 16 times in all. There are very few hills on this section, and the walking was very pleasant through open forest. We passed through another private property called Canoolie, 5.2 kms downriver. Canoolie was first settled by Allen and Catherine Rankin who moved there in 1883 and stayed on for 56 years.

"The fertile river flats provided most of what was needed on the farm. They reared pigs, cattle and poultry, including turkeys, and had a fruit orchard. The corn crop was important to the family . . . . . it provided feed for the pigs, poultry and horses. The family was mostly self sufficient and provided their own milk, butter, cheese, chooks, eggs, turkeys, pigs, bread, vegetables, fruit and beef. Catherine had a sewing machine and made most of their clothes. They cured hams using salt and brown sugar and they also salted beef so that it would keep." (The Deua River Track, compiled by Peter C Smith)

The old slab timber homestead with a shingle roof is now gone, and the current owner has built a neat week-ender nearer the river, and also a small bushwalking hut for campers who make it that far.


Boiling the billy at Canoolie Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Brian and Chris Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Bob Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

The track from Alpine to Canoolie is an obvious vehicle track, but it was difficult to find the way out of Canoolie. Once we did, and crossed the river, it was a matter of following trees blazed by horseriding groups. The track is often faint and sometimes nonexistent, but the trees are well marked and we didn't have too much trouble finding the way.

5 km further downriver we set up our tents beside the Deua and lit a fire. Then it started raining and didn't stop until morning. Next morning everything was pretty wet, and we decided that, rather than spend another day walking the trail to Bendethera and back, it would be wiser to head back out to Alpine. We were concerned that if it rained again and the firetrails got too wet, it would be too slippery to drive out.


Campsite by river Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Fern covered track Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Pat, Betty, Brian, Karen, Chris, Val and Len Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Fortunately the weather held and we spent one more night camping at Alpine Homestead before driving out the next morning. But even though we'd only had one night of rain, the Mongamulla Firetrail was slippery and eventually we had to tow 2 of the 3 vehicles up the last section of wet clay.

A very big thank you to our leader Len, who researched the area, contacted the local property owners, and made two difficult reccies into the start at Alpine to check out the vehicle access. Also thanks must go to our courageous drivers Len, Val and Pat, who tackled the firetrails with some trepidation and a lot of skill.


Back to Canoolie Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Early morning at Alpine Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Tackling the Mongamulla Firetrail Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

END