Upper Blue Mountains Bushwalking ClubGreater Blue Mountains National Park- Blue Mountains

National Park- Victory Track – Clarinda Falls – Numantia Creek – Numantia Falls – Sassafras Ridge – spur line –

Sassafras Gully- Monday 21st October 2019- Track Notes

Are we really at that spot? Consultation high on a spur somewhere ‘off’ Sassafras Ridge. Photo: Onni Elliott.

Short Title Numantia FallsDate Monday 21st October 2019Leader John FoxMaps etc., Department of Lands topographic map, 1:25000, Springwood 9030-4S,

1:25,000, Third edition, GPS setting WGS 84Walk description

Victory Track – Clarinda Falls – Numantia Creek – Numantia Falls – Sassafras Ridge – spur line – Sassafras Gully – 9km, 350m +&-

Rating 3 with sections 4. Gear issues First aid kit, 2 litres of water, electrolytes, GPS, PLB, Appropriate head

and footwear Numbers 12 max, 5 places leftMeeting Point

0830 The track Head, Victory Track

Transport Club carsComments Some off- track walking in Numantia Creek and climbing Sassafras Ridge.

Nice rainforest. Bookings Contact leaderEnquiries John Fox email johnandjennyfox@bigpond.com

The Party

John Fox, leader, Brian Fox, co-leader, Michael Keats, Kelvin Knox, Berenice Torstensson, Onni Elliott, Harold Thompson, Ann-Marie Kenny, Lesley-Ann Angus, Dave Dash and Emanuel Conomos, 10.

The Weather

A glorious bright spring day with 100% sunshine and mild temperatures. Temperature range 9 to 25 degrees C.

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Some of the party at the pool below Numantia Falls, GR 721 669. Photo: Onni Elliott.

Local Place Names

Sassafras Creek has its headwaters rising between Wigram Road and Martin Place, Faulconbridge. It flows for 4km generally south east into Glenbrook Creek and contains Clarinda Falls. Named after the Sassafras Tree, Doryphora sassafras which is common to this area. Name assigned by Geographical Names Board, 28 November 1969. The upper reaches were called Sassafras Gully as per Survey Plan C636.1507, dated November 1876. S 717 689 to 736 658.

Sassafras Gully has its headwaters off the southern side of Pitt Street and Valley Road, Springwood. It flows for 1.2km generally south into Sassafras Creek. Named after the tree, Doryphora sassafras. The Survey Plan C636.1507, dated November 1876, by surveyor John

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Deering records the headwaters of Sassafras Creek as Sassafras Gully. Shoalhaven Telegraph, 8 October 1885, p. 3 records, “tenders have been called for clearing the road from Springwood to Sassafras Gully.” The Sydney Mail, 29 December 1888, p. 1345 records, “Sassafras Gully, or Flying Fox Gully.” S 738 680 to 731 670.

Pools in Numantia Creek above the Numantia Falls, GR 721 669. Photo: Onni Elliott.

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Victory Track is a walking track from Faulconbridge Railway Station along Sassafras Creek, past Clarinda Falls to join the southern end of Sassafras Gully track, Faulconbridge. The track was constructed in the period 1878-1887. Initially known as the ‘long track,’ it was renamed the Victory Track in 1919 to commemorate the allied victory in WWI. Ref: Blue Mountains Daily, 17 March 1939, p. 4 records, “Victory Pass.” The new signage as at 2017 records, “Sir Henry Parkes Victory Track.” S 718 689 to 731 670.

Rocklily Cave is located about 150m from the start of the Victory Track within Faulconbridge Gully, Faulconbridge. This natural cave was enlarged and levelled and did at one stage contain a picnic table and seating. Rocklily is the common name for the Rock Orchid that grew in and around this cave. Ref: The Railway Guide of NSW, 1879, p. 38. Robertson, H E C. Official Blue Mountains Tourist Guide and Street Directory, 1935, p. 13. S 719 687.

Rock Lilly Cave 2nd June 2017 showing the extent of hand rock picking, with Michael and Robyn positioned to show the scale of the cave. Photo: Brian Fox.

Clarinda Falls is a waterfall on Sassafras Creek, 1.1km south east of Faulconbridge Railway Station. Named after Clarinda Varney (1813-1888), the first wife of Sir Henry Parkes. The walking track from Faulconbridge Railway Station to these falls was constructed during the period 1878-1887. The walking track was named the Victory Track in 1919 to commemorate the allied victory in WWI. Ref: Faulconbridge and Mount Albert Estates, National Library, Map RM 2452, dated 6 July 1881 records, the falls unnamed. Melville, Ninian. One Day Walking Tours Blaxland to Wentworth Falls, 1938. The Blue Mountains Daily, 17 March 1939, p. 4. S 722 680.

Faulconbridge Gully is now known as Sassafras Creek. It is located on the southern side of Faulconbridge Railway Station and has the Victory Track within it. Named after the town of Faulconbridge. Clarinda Falls are in this gully. Ref: Nepean Times, 4 November 1893, p. 6. Wilson's Sydney Suburbs Street Directory & Blue Mountains Guide, 1918, p. 39 also mentions the Terraced Gardens, Rocklily Glen and Rocklily Cave within Faulconbridge Gully. S 719 687.

Fountain of Egeria is a name attributed by Sir Alfred Stephen, possibly on the old walking track off the Victory Track to Numantia Falls, Faulconbridge. The fountain of Egeria was

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The party reflected in the pool below Numantia Falls. Left to right Onni Elliott, Kelvin Knox, John Fox, Brian Fox, Michael Keats, Lesley-Ann Angus, Berenice Torstensson, Dave Dash, Ann-Marie Kenny, Harold Thompson and Emanuel Conomos. Photo: Time exposure, Emanuel Conomos.

located near Rome, and Egeria had been the consort and counsellor of King Numa. Ref: Hut News. Smith, Jim. Numantia’s forgotten bushwalking track in Faulconbridge, December 2014 - January 2015. S c.722 673.

A strange structure on the banks of Numantia Creek above the falls, GR 720 667. Photo: Onni Elliott

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Numantia was a both a residence and locality name. It was located between Linden and Faulconbridge. Sir James Martin (1820-1886), Premier of NSW for three terms during the period 1863-1872, built a small house near the railway line which he named Numantia. The name Numantia also applied to a private railway platform for Sir James, which opened on the 9 February 1876. A public platform opened on 9 July 1877 and closed in 1891. Sir James owned 386 hectares in this area. Martin was classically educated and most likely regarded Numantia and its proverbially suicidal resistance to Rome as emblematic of an extreme devotion to freedom and resistance to tyranny. Ref: Railway archives station names and Royal Australian Historical Society Journal Vol. 31, Part 4, 1945, pp. 249-276. S 697 667.

Numantia Creek is a perennial creek rising on the Blue Mountains Range about 1.8km east, north east of Linden Railway Station. It flows for 2.4km generally east and north east over Numantia Falls and into Sassafras Creek. Named after Sir James Martin's house Numantia. Sir James Martin (1820-1886) was Premier of NSW for three terms during the period 1863-1872. A walking track from Martin's property to these falls was constructed in the 1880s. Ref: Windsor topographic map 1:63360, Survey Royal Aust. Engineers, 1929. S 703 669 to 724 675.

Berenice with wildflowers in wild terrain somewhere on Sassafras Ridge. Photo: Onni Elliott.

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Numantia Falls are within Numantia Creek, about 2.6km south, south east from Faulconbridge Railway Station. Named after Numantia Creek, possibly from the 1930s. A walking track is shown on the Surveyed Plan of Sir Alfred Stephen's land, (which adjoined Sir James Martin’s land) of February 1880; the waterfall is shown on the plan, but no name recorded. Ref: Survey Plan C910.1507. Searle, Allan. Faulconbridge, 1977. S 721 669.

Not sure what this shrub is. Located on the track to Numantia Falls. Photo: Onni Elliott.

Sassafras Ridge divides Numantia Creek and Glenbrook Creek, south of Faulconbridge. Named after Sassafras Creek which in turn was named after the Sassafras trees, Doryphora sassafras growing in this region. Name assigned by Geographical Names Board, 28 November 1969. Sassafras Ridge trends generally in an east westerly direction for about 2.5km. S 702 669 to 730 662.

Ye Olde Fountaine is located within an overhang, 930m from the start of the Sassafras Gully Track, Springwood. The words are inscribed on the rock face next to a natural flow of water spurting out of a rock crevice. The wording was most likely inscribed by Albert Joseph (Joe) Stratton in 1913 as he has carved his name on a rock next to this spring as well as at several other places nearby. S 732 673.

Track Notes

Ever since John proposed this walk, I had been scouring the data base for the last time I did this walk. I knew it was with Brian Fox and it was to verify a waterfall located off the Victory Track. The reason, to update an entry in the proposed Blue Mountains Geographical Encyclopaedia- Eleanor Falls. That was in June 2017.

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Plot of the walk route overlaid on a topographic map. Recorded and prepared by Emanuel Conomos.

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Brian, Michael and Harold at the base of a very large Turpentine Tree, Syncarpia glommulifera on the Victory Track. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

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Early in the walk on the Victory Track. Michael, Harold and Brian. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

Olearia tomentosa, trackside, The Victory Track. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

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Clarinda Falls, Victory Track. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

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Lesley-Ann exploring the pool at Numantia Falls. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

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John and Brian reflecting and being reflected, the pool below Numantia Falls. Photo: Harold Thompson

Scrub bashing, Numantia Creek. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

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Stalactites rich in mineral salts in an overhang above the pool and below Numantia Falls. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

On that walk we had also spent time checking out a lot of historical garden tracks at the property known as Numantia.

Today our mission was different, so the Rocklily Cave at GR 718 687 was not visited except by the’ tail enders’ of the group- Harold, Emanuel, Brian and I even though it is literally ‘on the track’. The Victory Track is in desperate need of an upgrade. In many places it would be safer to walk off track. The prolonged dry has also left the level areas of the track covered in leaves that are the closest we have to ‘flat ball bearings.’ When stacked more than 4 leaves thick they are lethal to mis-tread on.

Despite the dry conditions the wildflowers were out in abundance with yellow Hibbertias and Gompholobiums dominating. A fine example of Olearia tomentosa was seen trackside. By 0909 we had reached Clarinda Falls, GR 728 680. The water flow was pitiful, but we did stop for photos. Leaving Clarinda falls it was full steam ahead down the track to the junction of Sassafras Creek and Numantia Creek. This is also the point where we moved from the Blue Mountains City Council administrated area into the NPWS, GR 724 675.

The creek junction area is quite expansive; and the remains of former campfires and a stash of firewood proclaims regular use. It was also at this point where we abandoned the Victory Track and followed a foot pad that runs parallel to the Numantia Creek. The pad has evolved through usage. It wanders up and down and most of the time is easy to follow.

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Old signage at the track junction Sassafras Gully Track and the Victory Track. Photo: Brian Fox.

Roughly half an hour later we arrived at the pool at the foot of Numantia Falls. It is a spectacular location. The falls are at the back of an almost spherical space with cliffs rising to 20m + around three quarters of the sphere. Below, a white sandy beach extends around the periphery of the floor and in turn this encloses a pool about 25m in diameter and about 2m deep in the centre.

On the south western side cliffs, stalactites and shawl formations have developed through the dissolving of calcium carbonate and various iron salts leached from the sandstone above. Epiphytes including Drosera species grow in favoured locations around the walls. On our return visit later in the day a freshwater crayfish, Euasticus spinnifer was seen. Many more were found in the higher reaches of Numantia Creek. We spent an enjoyable 20 minutes at this Arcadian spot.

After morning tea, we climbed up the south western side cliffs and visited the spectacular pools in the sandstone above the point where the water drops over the edge. These pools have former in a weaker layer of sandstone and one we measured was over 1m deep. The two larger pools are connected underwater. A pleasant 7 minutes was spent here.

Leaving we ser off to climb a spur to the crest of Sassafras Ridge. Somehow, we missed making a 90 degree turn to climb to a high point and then descend a 30m cliff line to rejoin the Victory Track at the Sassafras Track Junction.

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This was no big deal as we had an enjoyable off- track scramble up a ‘no name’ ridge through masses of wildflowers. Before the climb we found an amazing structure built from cut saplings and tied together with nylon type twine. Although the structure had no roof and no known purpose, the builder has also constructed a quaint fence. All this was at GR 720 667.

Down in the Numantia Creek immediately below this structure were the remains of a twin log bridge… Mysteries. Leaving the site, we headed upwards climbing about 50m in rough terrain and then intersecting a cliff line which we followed for about 200m, GR 718 665 to a shallow cave, GR 716 665 before deciding that something was not correct. A map study by four members resulted in a rethink of where to go. It was now 1112. By 1156 we were back down in the creek using a somewhat unconventional method to negotiate the last 2m of cliff line -combining jumping with assistance from a sitting position.

What followed was some wonderful creek walking, 1203, GR 719 666, mostly on open rock shelves but occasionally in rough bush and water borne debris. A grouping of Waratahs was noted as we made our way back to the top of Numantia Falls, 1230. The pool at the base of the falls was reached at 1240 and lunch was on for 21 minutes. In that time Onni decided to go for a swim and pronounced the water ‘fresh’. We all believed him. He tested the depth and emerged refreshed.

1301, it was time to hit the track. Rather than attempt to follow the original plan we retraced our way back to the Victory Track at the Numantia Creek pad - Sassafras Gully Track junction, 1320, and then followed the Victory Track to the Sassafras Gully Track. A pleasant walk along the Victory Track to the exit track junction at GR 720 670 was reached at 1341. The creek in this area was home to many crayfish.

At 1352 the climb out was underway. Ye Olde Fountain was noted at 1401, GR 732 672 and the cars at the end of the walk were reached at 1415 by the fast group and 1430 by the slow group. During the walk we covered 11.7km and climbed 330m.

Michael KeatsBushexplorers22nd October2019

UBMBWC Numantia Falls- 211019- Track Notes/MK

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