Another Dharug National Park bushwalk… and another trig… this route follows a similar formula to the walk up to Haycock Ridge and along the ridge a few weeks prior. Our bushwalk is wholly within Dharug National Park, established on 1 October 1967 – but as late as 1959 the parish maps shows multiple private landholdings occupying what is now the Mill Creek picnic area and campground. A number of these large blocks were owned by James Singleton, who constructed eight pioneering water-powered flour mills in NSW in the early 1800s. Portion 46 in the parish of Spencer was the second tidal flour mill, which was was built about 350m from the mouth of Mill Creek.
From the Mill Creek Campground, Bernard takes the lead as we head straight up the side of the steep ridge.
We’re soon negotiating the first of several cliff-cliff lines, that look intimidating on the LIDAR map – but Bernard has done his homework and confirmed there are a number of slots and gaps that will get us through.
The second cliff-line is a bit higher, but again there is an easy route through.
Each breather point offers classic Dharug views: folded valleys, sandstone ribs, and the deep green of Mill Creek’s catchment.
The advantage of our direct approach up means we’re on top of the Starkey Ridge fairly quickly, with relatively easy walking through light scrub along the ridge-top.
As we continue along the ridge, there are some nice views over the Hawkesbury River and One Tree Hill on the opposite. Although there is clearly no shortage of trees on One Tree Hill, it was named in the 1834s by surveyor-general Major Mitchell who produced his 1834 Map of the Colony of NSW using a trigonometric survey where “the hills were cleared and single trees were left”. There is no evidence of a trig station ever being on this small peak, and a single tree may have been used as a visible reference point.
We reach Starkey Trig on the high point of Starkey Ridge, and it too is surrounded by scrub and trees – but at least the trig station is fairly intact.
While the trig station offers no views, a short walk to the end of Starkey Ridge provides a great vantage point over the Hawkesbury River (Deerubbin).
On the opposite of the Hawkesbury is One Tree Reach, and almost directly below is the airfield of the Sydney Radio Control Society, which has a few model planes buzzing around in front of us.
We’ve got one last potential scramble to reach our next ridge; the descent is fairly easy as we head towards the saddle at GR 1817 0042.
The saddle is fairly scrub-free, and it’s an easy scramble up the other side to the next ridge.
We’re now on Flat Rocks Ridge, known for its large number of Aboriginal engraving sites that were first documented in 1899, and which form part of an extensive Dharug ceremonial ground.
We find the very weathered Group 1 site, and an interesting shelter which has charcoal art and grinding grooves.
Our route continues along Flat Rocks Ridge, which is a bit scrubby in places but generally easy walking.
Our route passes Group 2 – one of the more interesting Flat Rocks Ridges sites featuring a gigantic kangaroo which has been hit by twelve boomerangs. Unfortunately the figure is very weathered and only a few of the boomerangs can be seen.
Nearby is Group 3, an equally impressive site which has an enormous female deity figure (amongst many other figures on the long rock ledge), and numerous grinding grooves.
We continue along the undulating ridge, which offers a few nice view views over Dharug National Park.
We visit another shelter with Aboriginal art, which has a number of figures in red ochre, and some flowering orchids.
Contiining along the ridge, we encouter a few sections of scrub – and some large, open rock platforms.
The off-track section of our Starkey Ridge and Flats Rocks Ridge loop finishes at Group 6, the most impressive of the Aboriginal engraving sites along the ridge – partly because of the number of figures (80) and grinding grooves (126), and partly because most of the figures have been “cleaned” making them easy to see.
From here we return via a walking track.
Although not officially signposted, the track has a few unofficial cairns and more official-looking triangular markers at the few spots where the route is not obvious.
The track meets the signposted 11km Walking Track for the last 3.5km back to Mill Creek Picnic Area.
It’s a pleasant track and an easy end to the walk, which crosses a couple of creeks and passes a few swimming holes.
We finish at Mill Creek just before the sun sets.
We”ve completed the 15km loop in about nine hours – incuding a few lengthy stops to photograph the rock art sites!
Getting to the Starkey Trig / Flat Rock Ridge loop
The walk starts at the Mill Creek Camping Area and finishes at the Mill Creek Picnic Area, which are 800m apart. You can leave your car at either spot. It’s about an 8km drive from Wisemans Ferry along Wisemans Ferry Road, and the turn-off into the national park is signposted.
0 Comments