Jessie McIntosh Memorial Hike (Buninyong) - 15.9 Kms

 U3A Hike No. 127

Hike report by Dick Patterson

On a warm late Spring day twenty two walkers in three seperate groups met at the Buninyong tennis courts and then headed to the nearby intersection of Lal Lal street and Webbs Hill Road south of the highway to follow the trail of the four year old girl who went missing in 1867 in the Buninyong bushland.

Blue Group headed east up Webbs Hill Road where Andrew pointed out the aproximate house site that was home to Jessie McIntosh and her large family, from where Jessie wandered off.  It was from here that we left Webbs Hill Road and took to the rough vehicular road, Devonshire Road, that headed south east and through a very dry section of stringy bark trees.

We were pleased to see the wildflowers in abundance with quite large patches of delicately fringed flax lilies and bright blue pin cushions and coral lichen in different spots. It was very much the month to be wandering along these roads.

The odd kangaroo of a small size greeted us as did an echidna further along the track. Morning tea was on some well chosen bricks overlooking a removed pine plantation. It was at this point that we were overtaken by the two other groups of walkers. We continued on Devonshire Road north east and then to south and past a few houses tucked into bush settings. The new houses had very large clearings which tell or the fears and regulations that resulted from the recent fires throughout Victoria.

The Scotsburn fire of 2016 that burned through this area was hot enough to take out the crowns of the trees but fortunately most were now recovering for the disaster.

When we hit Nashs Road we headed south and then east along Scotts Lane and then south into Nidschelms Lane. This continued until we reached Pioneer lane and turned north for a short distance along the Buninyong - Mt Mercer Road and then east along Peers Lane and north to Walshes Road and to McLeods Road and then Sandy Hill Rd and finally (nearly) into Brennans Road and up the memorable hill of Mangans Road, into Skirkas Road then Gainer Lane, Fasham Street and the final run to our cars parked along Webbs Hill Road.

During our hike we passed several points where Jessie had been sighted but not realising she was lost no alarm was raised and no assistance was offered to her.

Quite a bit of navigating. Well done and thanks to our leaders.

We had a very well deserved lunch break at the old railway station siding at the Men’s shed in Buninyong in a good and cooling breeze as the temperature neared 30 degrees. 

A detailed newspaper report of the inquest can be accessed via the Historical Link after the photos. There are also links to downloadable GPX track file as well as an interactive map.

Photos by Andrew




White Group

Gold Group







LINKS



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