b'CLUB SPOTLIGHT IDLERS 4WD CLUB OF VICTORIA INC. coach and horse. There were several sections of alternative escort route tracks used, depending on the time of the year, weather conditions and the danger of bushrangers. Large sections of the escort route were the main road to Adelaide for many years.We camped 2 nights at Horsham where we could have fires, and Frank V ictorias Golden Years became SouthWellington, SA section toproduced his guitar for a TRAVELLING BY 4WDsing along. Surprisingly the one shower sufficed and kept us all clean and refreshed. ALONG THE HISTORICCastlemaine Vic. section From Horsham we did a day trip without trailers along an alternative Gold Escort Route, found the GOLD ESCORT ROUTEBY: JUNE MARLIN Tolmer Plaque and had lunch at Dimboola. After lunch we had to abandon the rest of the day as it had rained and the dirt roads we were following were throwing mud higher than us. The loud din from the shuffled to ensure we had winch equipped vehiclesstone and mud pummelling our vehicles caused us Australias near bankruptcy. By 1851in the correct order in case we needed to winchto find an escape route and head back to Horsham more than 20,000 people were living at Mtanyone out, however everyone got through withoutand the car wash. Alexander alluvial goldfields, the richest andany problems. We visited marker No3, Binnies Well,Next day our Trip Leaders decided to test our easiest worked in the World.After SA agriculture wasbut the well could not be found. We stopped atskills as they led us to our free camp at Waterfall affected by drought then a very wet season, news ofmarker No 4 and 5 and then on to our second night,Campground, near Avoca, along a deeply rutted, the gold in Victoria saw many people leave for hopea free camp at Boothby Rocks Reserve. We arrivedwinding goat track, where careful wheel placement of a better life and riches. They withdrew whateverearly, went for walks and climbed the large granitewas required particularly for those towing. We made money they had from SA banks, the economy was inrocks close by, where phone reception was available.it safely and set up camp for the afternoon, in time near ruins, and the gold was not coming back to thefor a walk up to the dry falls. Another campfire and SA Banks. An Act of Parliament in 1852 was passed toSadly no campfires in SA due to a full state fire ban.singalong.enable SA to buy gold and issue gold coins. Next day visited plaques at the Tintinara Woolshed,Final destination, Castlemaine. After stopping Because it was easier to lodge gold in Melbournea stone woolshed still standing and several bullsat Tullaroop and Cairn Curran Reservoirs, the day Banks, a shorter route from the Victorian goldfieldskept an eye on us. We visited Markers 7 and 8, calledbecame unpleasant as the sky blackened, thunder was commenced to be surveyed in 1852 by Johnin at Mount Monster for lunch but could not findand lightning, was seen and heard, strong winds McLaren. Alexander Tolmer, SA Commissioner ofany evidence of the Monster Well. We continuedand eventually heavy rain. We made our way to Police, offered his services to set up a Police escorton, visiting Marker Nos 9, 10, 11 and the ShearingCastlemaine Caravan Park, where our booked sites for the coaches carrying gold from Mt Alexander toTree before eventually arriving at the Mundullawere muddy and unsuitable to set up trailers, so Adelaide, and so begins the journey from Wellington,Showground for our third night camp. Ian and Kareneveryone decided to head for home.SA for Trip Leaders Peter and Anne, Frank andjoined the group here and we all headed off to theWe stopped and photographed all plaques, apart Maree, Laurie and June, Graham and friend AndrewMundulla Hotel for a meal.from 2 that had most likely been stolen, with names and Dennis.After grassy campsites at Wellington,We stopped at Border Town next day for Markerthat told a story, Binnies Well, Kangaroo Flat Change a meal at the hotel, and a photo stop at Marker NoNo 12 and a read of the history boards, and we putStation, Cold and Wet Station, Reedy Well, Limestone 1, a plaque next to the pub, we managed to fit alla foot in both States at the Tolmer Rest Area on theWell, Mount Monster etc.vehicles and trailers on the ferry to commence ourSA/Vic Border.Quite a few times when we stoppedThanks for a great trip, friendly company, trip. along the Three Chain Road sections or whereLaurie and Ian for the chainsaws that had 3 outings Finding suitable places to sink wells was vitalthe route ran between properties, we had a localto remove trees from tracks, Frank for his sing-and not all attempts were successful. The first well,farmer appear to check if we were ok and probablyalongs and most of all to Peter and Anne for a well Perkindoo Well is located on private property andif we looked ok! Perhaps because we were on these(Detailed historical information and maps used from The Gold Escort researched and historic trip.could not be visited. The remains of the second well,seldom used back tracks. Route - Westprint Outback Map and Travel Guide., compiled and Hawkes Nest Well, were found near Marker No two.We encountered long sections of sandy trackspublished by Westprint Maps, Nhill, Vic.)This was also the start of 5 Kms of soft to very softthrough the Little Desert National Park over the sand. Tyre pressures were reduced and vehiclesnext two days and were thankful we were not on 10 TRACKWATCH|September 2023 TRACKWATCH|September 2023 11'