Fairylands Pleasure Grounds Traditional Cache
Fairylands Pleasure Grounds
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This geocache has been placed to mark the former site of the Fairylands Pleasure Grounds.
Around the turn of century the land was cleared for market gardens. Later, in the 1920s, it was turned into picnic grounds. It was in this guise that many older folk knew it. It has been suggested that the name Fairyland was arrived at, not only because it was a place of mystery and beauty, but also because it was the practice of the Swan family, who ran the grounds, to place fairytale characters in the trees.
'The Rest' at Fairyland Pleasure Grounds, Lane Cove National Park (NSW). Source: NSW State Records Archives Investigator
As more people patronised the area a wharf, dance hall, kiosk and playground etc were installed. Consequently, it was known as Fairyland Pleasure Grounds. Access to the grounds was mainly by ferries. Later an access road was built from Delhi Road, about 100 metres west of the Crematorium gates. An old gate post is still standing but the road is now overgrown. After many setbacks the picnic grounds closed in the 1970s and became part of the then LCP State Recreation Area in 1978.
The down side of all this activity is the destruction of native vegetation and the invasion of weeds into the area. Also, exotic species eg camphor laurels and poplars were actually planted as shade trees. Consequently, it is the task of Group 14 of the LCNP Bushcare program to rectify this. The January 1994 wildfires destroyed any remaining relics of the bygone era. As a result, only a few remaining building posts can be seen together with a small concrete wall.
Most of the area has re-vegetated with Acacia longifolia and other natives together with numerous weeds. Much more work is needed to rid the remaining areas of privet, morning glory, camphor laurel etc. Any Friends interested in working in this historic area should contact the Bush Regen staff at the Park on 9412 1811.
Getting there:
The best place to start your walk is from Quebec Road (see waypoint). From there a well maintained track well take you to the geocache. Alternatively, you can park in the Lane Cove Technology Park and find the start of the path west of the geocache (see waypoint).
Geocaching NSW aims to enhance and improve the activity of geocaching in New South Wales. Visit the association website at www.geocachingnsw.asn.au.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng gur onfr bs gur cbyr.