Storeys Creek

For our next stop, we dared to venture to the southern side of Ben Lomond National Park, an area shrouded in mystery and rugged beauty. Turning off in Avoca, we headed north towards the formidable silhouette of Ben Lomond, a majestic landmark that seemed to touch the heavens. Just weeks earlier, we had explored the northern side, where we spent a week immersed in the tranquility of the bush and conquered the heights of Legges Tor. This time, our journey led us to the ghostly remnants of Storey's Creek, an abandoned tin mining town with a haunting history. Deserted in 1971, Storey's Creek now stood as a silent witness to the passage of time, with only a solitary occupied house standing amidst the echoes of its once-bustling past.

As we approached, the eerie silence of the ruins enveloped us. The derelict buildings, standing as spectral sentinels of a bygone era, whispered tales of a community that once thrived here, now surrendered to nature's relentless embrace. Anth, ever the intrepid explorer, eagerly searched the area and unearthed a few geocaches hidden among the remnants, infusing a touch of modern-day adventure into our historical journey. Each find was a small victory, a connection to fellow adventurers who had come before us.

We parked the bus on what was once the town’s cricket oval, now gradually being reclaimed by the encroaching forest. The overgrown grass and encircling trees created an almost mystical atmosphere, as if nature itself was weaving a tapestry around the memories of the past. Nestled under the towering Dolomite cliffs of Stacks Bluff, we prepared for the frigid night ahead, knowing it would be one of the coldest we had experienced. The imposing cliffs loomed above us, their sheer faces bathed in the soft light of the setting sun, casting long shadows that seemed to guard the secrets of the past.

We gathered firewood, letting the crackling flames’ warmth seep into our bones, a comforting balm against the biting Tasmanian chill. As we sat by the fire, its glow illuminating our faces, we felt a deep sense of connection to the land and its history. The stars began to emerge, twinkling like diamonds in the clear, cold sky, and the vastness of the universe felt both humbling and awe-inspiring. The fire's embers danced in the night, casting flickering shadows that played upon the old buildings, bringing them to life in our imaginations.

As the embers began to fade, we took a brief walk around the oval with a torch, eager to uncover the secrets of the night. The air was crisp and still, each breath visible in the frosty air. To our great excitement, we spotted several Eastern Quolls darting along the edges of our campsite. These small, spotted marsupials, once believed extinct on mainland Australia, were a thrilling sight to behold in their natural habitat. Their curious eyes glinted in the torchlight, and their agile movements were a testament to their adaptability and resilience.

Witnessing these elusive creatures in the wild felt like stepping into an enchanted realm. The encounter added a magical, almost otherworldly, touch to our evening, reminding us of the extraordinary wonders that await those who dare to seek them. The quolls, with their distinctive white spots and bushy tails, seemed like mystical beings from another time, guardians of the forest who had come to welcome us into their world.

As we settled in for the night, the haunting beauty of Storey's Creek and the wild charm of its nocturnal residents imprinted a lasting memory on our hearts. We lay in our cozy bed, listening to the distant sounds of the forest and the whispering winds, feeling a profound sense of peace and contentment. The stars outside our window shone brightly, a celestial reminder of the timeless allure of Tasmania's hidden treasures. We drifted off to sleep, knowing that this place, with its rich history and natural wonders, would remain etched in our memories forever.Read more