From its source to its mouth, the Mersey River flows through varied topography, rich agricultural land and many interesting centres of population. The Meandering the Mersey (MTM) series will follow, as much as practical, the course of the Mersey River with caches being placed at varying intervals. We trust you will enjoy the area.
Warrawee Forest Reserve was a jewel in the Municipality of Latrobe. It was a drawcard for tourists and locals alike. Then in June 2016 a major weather event devastated the area. The following extracts have been taken from an article in The Examiner newspaper on 9 June 2017, one year on. The entire article can be accessed by the link A Dream Washed Away
In the week leading up to the June 6, 2016, Tasmanians were warned to prepare for an extreme weather event. No one could have predicted what happened next.
One year on, the memories of that week remain and the scars on the landscape and infrastructure are reminders of one of the worst natural disasters in Tasmania’s recent history.
Bordering the Mersey River, just south of Latrobe, is Warrawee Forest Reserve. It is a place where you are likely to capture a glimpse of a platypus in the wild. Warrawee has not always been a reserve. Originally a derelict quarry site, Ron Hedditch and his brothers, Colin and Phillip, along with John Reed devoted 25 years of their lives to constructing a boardwalk, lake, platypus viewing locations and facilities. The volunteer group also conducted tours and won a number of awards for their efforts. Any revenue went back into preserving the reserve.
On June 6 everything at Warrawee Reserve was decimated in a matter of hours. There was catastrophic damage. Extraordinary amounts of debris and rocks rushed over the cleared areas, boardwalk and roads. The picnic tables, barbeque areas and toilet facilities were all destroyed.
The devastating floods of June 2016, not only changed the course of the Mersey River, but changed the community of Latrobe. Warrawee Reserve will never be the same.
Public access to the Warrawee Forest Reserve was stopped after the floods for about eighteen months before limited access was restored. Public vehicle access to the former picnic areas is no longer possible but the reserve is open to walkers. On their return, the initial reaction of those who knew the area is shock and disbelief, and overwhelming sympathy for the volunteers who had given so much of their life to conservation and promotion of Warrawee. However it is still a lovely area to visit and in which to wander for the natural environment, for a stern reminder of the power of nature and for learning a little about the mining history of the area. More of the mining history will be detailed in a soon to be published earthcache focussing on the shale oil deposits.
After parking your car at the suggested parking location, it is an easy 1.5km walk along a formed service road to the former picnic area. The cache is to be found part way along the walk and is a 1L system container with a small number of swaps. Enjoy this wonderful area.