The Secrets of Dubbo Gully

On this Autumn walking tour we drop down into Dubbo Gully to Mangrove Creek and explore the hidden sites of a former community. First fleet lemons and blackberries, former orchards and slab huts. Our expert guide illuminates the histories of settlers from the 1830s and 1840s and living stories from growing up in the area - hear about what happened at 'the Matchbox' and 'Mead Gully'. We trace the original road from Sydney to the coast across heritage wooden bridges within the extraordinary landscape of gymea lilies, sandstone bluffs and trickling creeks.

Join outdoor guide and local historian Dr Bernadette Flynn to gain insight into the past at St Thomas Cemetery and this rarely visited part of Mangrove Creek. Explore the graves of Starkeys, Douglass, Andrews and Crafts and hear the stories of how the early settlers thrived and struggled. We visit the headstone of Hughie Cameron, now inside the boundary fence of the consecrated ground who is reputed to have leapt to his death holding bags of gold.

We visit Fairview to hear about the experience of growing up in the area and the campaign to save this last remaining homestead. Fairview build in 1922, replacing an older slab structure is representative of the many homesteads and farm houses that were formerly located in the valley. We will visit the original road from Sydney to the coast and hear about the haunted ‘inn of the Damned'.

Moderate level of fitness for the 10km walking tour. The tracks are mainly fire trail. BYO lunch and water and adequate sun protection.