408. Jessie McIntosh-Buninyong Walk 7.7km

 U3A Huke No 408.


Hike Report by Sharon Moss

Our first winter hike this year delivered all that Ballarat is sadly known for: wet, wet & more wet. Eleven hardy or maybe crazy hikers met at the Buninyong Cemetery.

We visited the grave of Jessie McIntosh, a 4-year-old girl who went missing in 1867. She had wandered from her home on the outskirts of Buninyong, with her body found 4 days later near Durham Lead, despite having been seen by several witnesses. This was a tragic situation, as it was not long after three children were lost in Daylesford, their bodies found several months later.

A brief car shuffle & we were underway. Beanies, scarves, gloves, coats & overpants was the dress code for today, with none of the usual wardrobe adjustments required! We wandered along well-maintained roads through the bush with the occasional climbs to help keep us warm.

Not a lot to report in terms of flora & fauna. Several kangaroos were spotted in a paddock & lovely pops of pink & white heath were on show amidst the bracken. A number of bright red & white spotted toadstools (Amanita muscaria) were sighted in the cemetery. Despite its whimsical appearance in folklore & garden ornaments, this toadstool is highly toxic & psychoactive!

Persistent rain led to a decision to skip morning tea & shorten the walk. A democratic vote was taken on both! Somewhat wet & bedraggled, we decided to enjoy a coffee at Marshmallow Jam, a cafe in Buninyong. We were warmly welcomed & spent time sharing conversation & friendship.

Thanks Andrew & Gordon for your optimism, enthusiasm, & versatility. Andrew promises we will redo the entire walk on a sunny day!

Photo by Marianne Kennedy



Photos by Andrew Parker












LINKS

INTERACTIVE MAP (click on markers for description)

DOWNLOAD A GPX FILE (FULL HIKE)

START/FINISH POINTS 

THIS HIKE IN 2020   (FULL ROUTE)

PODCAST 

HISTORICAL NOTES



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