Junee Reefs Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size:  (micro)
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The village of Junee Reefs is only small but full of history of a former Gold Mining era.
A new hall and two monuments have been constucted for the community.
After the discovery of gold in the late 1860s, a small settlement developed at Junee Reefs. By 1869 there were about 100 residents, a hotel (whose first license also ran the butcher shop) and a post office. "A public school was established in 1884 although the attendance fluctuated. By 1887 there were also a blacksmith’s shop, two general stores and a colonial wine shop and by 1889 a Presbyterian Church. There was a new store being built in 1900 and a large barn was being renovated and turned into an assembly hall. The hotel premises were dilapidated by 1902 and it lost it’s licence in 1908. "Where the church is was the location of the old village of Junee Reefs in the gold mining days. The population peaked at around 4000 people. The village was surrounded by gold mines. People came from everywhere when new gold was found. A lot of these people lived in tents. There are a lot of mine shafts that have been filled in around the district. "The gold was mined at two significant mine sites at the Reefs. There is one where the garbage tip is near the hall and then and then you travel further west and then north and there is the main area with the Dirt Hole mine which initially had a wooden windlass over it, used to raise the mined material. "The quartz that came out of those holes was transported by spring cart down to the creek (a spasmodic creek which didn’t run all the time). Here, right in front of the Catholic Church are the reefs. The stamping battery stood on the edge of the creek and all the quartz was put through the stamping battery and in the process of obtaining gold, cyanide was used and the fine sand that is a result of the stamping process was thrown into a heap. If you look there is still a big mound that might be 18-20 feet tall and it is called the cyanide mound."
The cache is a micro blended in to its surroundings. You will need a pen. Parking is available within 5 m of GZ. Take your time and take in the history available on the notice board and monuments. Good Luck.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
fvtantr obneq nern