Finchs Line

[kanangra]

I took a drive up to Wisemans Ferry before work yesterday to check this track out. I parked at the ferry and jogged down the road to the start of the track which is signposted. It began as a single track leading up around the end of the spur and then broadened into a narrow vehicle track. As it climbed in a series of switch backs up the spur the original stone walling was still in very good condition even though work on this line had been abandoned as long ago as 1829! Apparently the road was considered too steep and narrow and so the convict labour was reassigned to the nearby Devine's Hill route. The old line is still very obvious and easy to follow and is complete with stone culverts.

Once on top the old road follows the ridge to a saddle where there are great views down over the river and Wisemans Ferry. From here it continues along the ridge to the Old Great North Rd. Here I turned left and walked out along this great old example of early 19th C engineering. At the bottom I turned left and jogged back to the car at the ferry. The whole trip only took an hour and a half and is really excellent. Highly recommended.

K.

[GPSGuided]

A year or so ago we went up via the old Great North Rd convict route in summer. It was really really hot climbing up to the ridge with all the gravel reflecting the heat. I think you did it in the smarter direction. Will go anti-clockwise next time and follow the Finchs line. Thanks for the reminder.

Oh, don't forget to drive up to St Albans after for the best beer and pub lunch!

[kanangra]

Thanks for the tip. They've done a great job up there with the signage too.

K.

[GPSGuided]

Signage as in the gated section of Great North Rd? Yes, we learnt quite a bit of the history of the area through information signs along that hill climb too. Very interesting stuff. I couldn't stop thinking about that 'Hangman's Rock'. Couldn't quite believe that they've really hung people there. It was effective on the 'tourists' though.

[kanangra]

Yes and there is good signage right along Finch's Line as well. Apparently there is an App you can down load that will tell you about all the points of interest, Convict trail I think it is. The most interesting stop was at a pile of very old rough cut rocks by the side of the road. The sign explained that this was an abandoned stockpile from when work on the line was abandoned in favour of the route up Devine's Hill.

K.

[GPSGuided]

Thanks for the app tip. I'll find that before my next trip up there. With your nudge here, I suspect it'll be sooner than later.

Add: 'Convict Road'. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/convict ... 89505?mt=8
320Mb in size! Utterly surprised that the NPWS is into multimedia apps. That's a first!

[davidmorr]

In some respects, I am disappointed at what they have done to Finch's Road now. I first walked it about 20 years ago, when it was virtually unknown. We had walked to the top of Devine's Hill and down the side road to the lookout. From there on it was totally unmarked. We had to explore the ground, looking for clues as to the road's route. We found benching where the road had been cut into the hillside, and occasional lines of stones along the edge of the road. On the descent, it was more obvious because of the embankments they had built. But a wonderful exploration experience.

I few years later, I found they had slashed it all the way, and it no longer had the charm of discovery from long ago.

Kanangra, did you see the engravings on the rocks. One said something like "No 25 North Road Party", and the other was a mile post, I think "1 M".

[kanangra]

That's interesting David. No I didn't see the markings on the rocks. I wish I'd paid more attention now. Tends to be a bit of a problem with me. Maybe I should slow down a bit and just take in the scenery more?

K

[icefest]

That's interesting David. No I didn't see the markings on the rocks. I wish I'd paid more attention now. Tends to be a bit of a problem with me. Maybe I should slow down a bit and just take in the scenery more?

K

But then how will you walk 30km on one winters day?

[kanangra]

Life is full of compromises.

K.

[north-north-west]

One of only half a dozen times I managed to get the jerk out on a walk was on this little circuit, and the only occasion on which he didn't whinge, so it must have been fairly good - and easy. Nice to know it's still going strong.

[Rob Gosford]

Kanangra, did you see the engravings on the rocks. One said something like "No 25 North Road Party", and the other was a mile post, I think "1 M".

was up there 3 years ago. UP Devines Hill then along Finchs Line ........clockwise.

On Settlers Road (inbetween the Ferry and the gates at the bottom of Devines Hill) lies the oldest road bridge on mainland Australia still in use........Thomas James Bridge. Convict built 1830 by No. 25 Road Party.

here are two photos i took of Thomas James Bridge and the plaque set in rock near the TJ Bridge..........

the plaque commemorating the No. 25 Road Party bridge building.

a great little historic walk. Great views from the top from Finchs Line
looking up the Hawkesbury at Wisemans Ferry

[kanangra]

Yes that bridge is amazing. If you actually get out of the car and take a look at it you can see all the original stone work. Thanks for posting that shot too. I forgot to take my camera with me. A great look out spot.

K.

[johnw]

Kanangra, did you see the engravings on the rocks. One said something like "No 25 North Road Party", and the other was a mile post, I think "1 M".

That's interesting David. No I didn't see the markings on the rocks. I wish I'd paid more attention now. Tends to be a bit of a problem with me. Maybe I should slow down a bit and just take in the scenery more?

K

Yes you'll have to slow down K, I do some distance running but I get exhausted just thinking about your bush/trail epics

No. 25 Road Party, 19th century convict engraving on Finchs Line - Dharug NP via Wisemans Ferry NSW

More info 1
More info 2

Also worth turning left at the top of Devines Hill and finding the track out along Lower Macdonald Ridge to this view, with remnants of some old convict wells along the way:

Overlooking the Macdonald River from the end of Lower Macdonald Ridge, via the Old Great North Road - Wisemans Ferry NSW

[Rob Gosford]

thanks for showing your pictures John........

also, walking down Finchs Line (north to south from Devines Hill), at the very first unofficial lookout over Wisemans Ferry, this is the view......

now, JUST before arriving at that lookout (just off Finchs Line track) is THIS thing i TRIPPED over LOL.....
?

i couldn't lift it. I'm thinking, this might be where they chained the convicts to during meal breaks ?



.

[Rob Gosford]

Yes that bridge is amazing. If you actually get out of the car and take a look at it you can see all the original stone work.
K.

hi K.
yes you CAN see the stonework.
You just see it here on the right in this picture.

IMG_3685.JPG (136.22 KiB) Viewed 13170 times

[kanangra]

I can't believe I missed that massive inscription! Far out I'll have to be more observant in future.

K.

[davidmorr]

now, JUST before arriving at that lookout (just off Finchs Line track) is THIS thing i TRIPPED over LOL.....
?

IMG_3600.JPG

i couldn't lift it. I'm thinking, this might be where they chained the convicts to during meal breaks ?

It's much less romantic than that. There used to be a couple of big power poles up there, and that ring was for a guy rope to support one of them. There is another one there somewhere too, and various other bits of concrete.

[davidmorr]

I can't believe I missed that massive inscription! Far out I'll have to be more observant in future.

There are actually lots of things on Devine's Hill that you have to look for. Initials of people, convict arrows, rock quarries, a big drain to divert water, a former campsite for the convicts, etc, etc, etc. You need to wander slowly up the hill scrutinising the walls to find them. And once you have found them, the next time you will not be able to. lol

[Rob Gosford]

It's much less romantic than that. There used to be a couple of big power poles up there, and that ring was for a guy rope to support one of them. There is another one there somewhere too, and various other bits of concrete.

damn ! missed it by that much >>>> 150 years and yes, it was truly a romantic era in Australia's history.

thanks for the info on the infamous hook David......




.

[north-north-west]

...damn ! missed it by that much >>>> 150 years and yes, it was truly a romantic era in Australia's history.

You wouldn't think it was romantic if you were one of the convicts in the chain gangs. Or just about anyone else out there at that time.

[Rob Gosford]

it WOULDN'T be romantic in their time NNW....agreed.
But i was looking at it from our point of view......from this era. Like the romanticism of Ned Kelly, the Gold Rush, Blaxland Wentworth Lawson crossing the Blue Mts. They are romantic, poignant moments in our history.....



.

[davidmorr]

I was walking today on another road of similar age. Howe's Track was the first route from western Sydney (Windsor I think) to the Hunter Valley. Today, the Putty Road pretty much follows this route.

Parts of the stonework for Howe's Track can still be seen in places at the northern end and at the southern end. That said, it was a *&%$#! day to be walking - very strong winds and very cold, especially on the top of the ridge.

[GPSGuided]

Finally did this loop over the long weekend with a friend's family, including a 5 yo and a 10 yo. The gents of the family did the full loop while the rest were dropped off at the start and had our cars waiting at the finish gate. The weather was just ok and didn't get too hot for the young ones but they did start to complain towards the end of the 7-8km walk. Made easier by the excellent multimedia convict trail app produced by NPWS. Found all the "relics" easily and bumped into one friendly ranger along the way. Finished the day with a drinks and meal stop at St Albans' Settlers Inn. Lovely!