There are two things of interest here near this cache – an attractive rock formation and the Solway Street Bridge.
As for the former, I don’t know much about those rocks except that they are rather picturesque and attractive looking. They also look like vertically stacked up plates on a draining rack.
But, I was able to find out more information about the bridge. There was an old footbridge here prior to 2006 but it “was closed due to storm damage, sometime before April 2006. The bridge was shored up and reopened in June 2007, even though a replacement bridge had been proposed since at least 2003. As of April 2008 it remained just a proposal” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardiners_Creek_Trail).
It was noted in an article in May 2007 that children had been using fallen branches and stepping stones to cross Gardiners Creek near here (https://treadly.net/2007/05/10/solway-st-bridge-its-getting-tedious-now/ ).
The above source makes for an interesting read about disagreements between two councils and Melbourne Water and a proposed plan for a $1million bridge replacement.
Wikipedia says that the “old bridge was finally washed away by flood waters very early in the morning of 5 February 2011, after heavy rain resulting from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Yasi, rendering the bridge impassable.”
That we finally have a bridge that is strong and sturdy was all thanks to a “Project [that formed a] part of a Community Infrastructure program established by the Commonwealth Government, to assist regional development and partner activities, and associated projects.
The project closes the gap in the Gardiners Creek shared trail between Warrigal Road and the Solway Street Bridge in Ashburton. The result was to provide a continuous shared path from its start in Box Hill South to its intersection with the Main Yarra Trail, near Scotch College in Hawthorn.
“The project crossed a number of municipal boundaries which included the Cities of Boroondara, Stonnington, Monash, and was also supported by Vic Roads” (http://www.ipwea.com/awards2012/city-of-boroondara-gardiners-creek-trail-project/).
The end result was a success and it included an underpass at the Warrigal Road intersection. There were 5 stages to the project and it cost a total of $3,807,544. The solar lighting that can be seen between Markham Reserve Playground and the underpass was part of the project.
During the latter half of 2011 the bridge was completely replaced and was opened to the Public unofficially on 22 December 2011 and officially opened on 24 March 2012. If you have cycled along this trail you will notice that this bridge is one of the most modern one of the many bridges that crisscross Gardiners Creek from here into the city
A plaque nearby proudly bears the insignia of all three participating councils as well as mention of the key role played by the Australian Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program in providing the necessary funding.
And that ladies and gentlemen is how your tax dollars are put to work (*wink*) and how we have this beautiful convenient bridge, solar lighting and the underpass – where unknowingly I have placed two caches prior to researching this bridge.
THE CACHE
The cache is a small micro and there are not too many places to hide it here. DO NOT unscrew the wrong end of the cache or else you will damage it. Only one end of the top can be unscrewed. Both ends look similar but only one end can be unscrewed.
The challenge is to retrieve it and replace it without drawing any attention to what you are doing as this is a high muggle zone (especially on weekends, public holidays and after school hours) where everyone just wants to stop in the middle of the bridge to admire the rock formation. Please replace the cache securely as you found it ready for the next person to find.
DO NOT JAM it into a tight spot as some have done (Updated 19.2.2022).
No acrobatics required to retrieve this cache. Just sleight of hand and possibly a smartphone camera in selfie mode to assist you – or the old “tying the shoelace” pose.
I love reading about your geocaching fun but please leave spoilers out of it – for the sake especially of those who come after you.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
16 Oct 2020 - no longer wheelchair accessible but I could not remove the attribute. Still accessible for strollers.