Kanangra Walls water pipe mystery

[DickSmith]

Out on Kanangra Walls, within about 50 metres of Kanangra Head, is a 2” water pipe inserted vertically into the rock face, about a metre from the edge.

I took a photograph of the pipe 55 years ago (see photograph), and recently when I was at that location, the pipe is still there.

Does anyone know why it was put there? It would have been quite a lot of work to drill such a large hole.

Someone once suggested it could have been tied up with Charles Chauvel’s filming of Jedda, where the final scene took place at Kanangra Walls.

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Dick Smith

[oldpiscator]

Oh wow that would be exciting if it is related to the filming of Jedda!

[Allchin09]

Interesting question Dick,

It was also my understand that the pole being related to Jedda. I can't recall where I read that though, I think it might have been Jim Barretts book on Kanangra Walls but I don't have it at hand to confirm. Regardless, finding some evidence to support this claim would be useful.

The relevant section of the movie can be viewed below. It seems to be in the same rough area as the pole, but I can't match any of the rocks.
https://www.facebook.com/AskRozBlueMoun ... 601837491/

Another option is it could have just been what remains of a sign. It seems to be very similar to a sign a few hundred metres away on the walls, marking the location where Thomas Seymour ascended in 1864. See attached photos from when I visited the spot in 2013.

Doing some research now on Trove, I found an article referencing "Maxwell's Chair". Now, I thought Maxwell's Chair was a "chair shaped rock" which is near the Thomas Seymour pass and sign, see 4th and 5th photos. However, a newspaper article from 1955 reference the chair as follows

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/123144861

On the side of the plateau is a large cavern which one can enter and also at this point is to be found a recess on the edge of the cliff known as Maxwell's Chair.

Wonderful View

A notice set in cement nearby reads to the effect that a man named Max well from Burragorang sat on this rock in 1868. From Maxwell's Chair a magnificent panorama greets the eye and you can really appreciate nature's gift to this scenic
spot.

I think this description better aligns with the location of your photo. From memory, there's a spot in the rock next to the pole on the cliff edge where you can snuggly sit, which could be considered a recess. The sign they describe also seems to be different to the "Thomas Seymour" sign, as it references Maxwell, who isn't mentioned on the Seymour sign.

Maybe a trip to out to the walls to visit both spots and compare would shed some further light?

Alex.

[DickSmith]

I found it. This is the photograph from page 36 of Jim Barrett’s book “Kanangra Walls – Discovering History.”

The caption says, “Mrs Maxwell’s Chair – on the rim of Kanangra Walls. A plaque was originally affixed to the mast, but it disappeared many years ago. Photo Steve Clark 1993."

So this is clearly what the water pipe was put in for – to hold the plaque for Mrs Maxwell’s Chair. Thanks for the interest from everyone.