In the shadow of the stacks

The township of Glassford was once a bustling mining community with a school, hotel and a copper mine, including a smelter. There's not allot left now, but there is plenty to see. We headed off up the Boyne Valley along the Calliope Monto road, through the townships of Nagoorin, Ubobo, Builyan and Manypeaks. Now these towns are very small. Ubobo has a very well stocked general store that includes basic unleaded and diesel fuel, and ice creams. Builyan also has a general store and café and Manypeaks has a hotel. Along the bottom of the Boyne valley flows the Boyne River. Eventually flowing to the ocean at Boyne Island/Tannum Sands near Gladstone. Only broken by the massive Awonga Dam. We crossed the Boyne a couple of times on our way to Manypeaks along 70km of double and single lane bitumen winding through picturesque farmland. Eventually, just past Manypeaks, the bitumen runs out to become good dirt, and shortly after, we arrived at Childs Road. We found an unmanned farmers stall on the turn off selling various homemade preserves and vegies, and firewood for $6 a bag! So we picked up some Lemon Butter and threw a couple of bags of wood on the roof rack, and soldiered on. It was nearly 3pm by this point. The last leg of the drive from the main road was only about 9km but it took us about 50 minutes. This is the Dawes National Park, and Childs Road apparently winds right through, but I haven’t explored it yet. The road that follows Coppermine and Glassford Creeks is narrow, rocky and washed out. You need a 4WD, but It's not that difficult, and easy to follow. We arrived at a junction with a sign stating the historical aspect of the site and the fines that apply to anyone removing any artefacts. It’s not apparent at first, but when you turn around, it suddenly hits you. The brick smoke stack. The first time I came here I drove straight past. It’s been fairly well reclaimed by the bush. We pitched camp in the shadow of the stack and lit a fire straight away. I was trying a camp oven for the first time ever. It ended up being 9pm before we ate, but it was worth it. The next day we spent the morning exploring a fair bit of the area. There's 2 smoke stacks, an old boiler, various foundations and metal everywhere. There's a lovely little creek nearby and evidence of the smelting operation. There is a plastic container with a visitors book and a locally produced book on the history of the area that includes photos and maps. There's apparently plenty in the surrounding bush for the experienced bushwalker/explorer to find. 

The Glassford State Forest and Dawes NP aren't listed on the National Parks website and the official line is that, "if it's not listed, you're probably not supposed to camp there". Although we weren't alone....