Finchs Line, Wisemans Ferry

As part of preparation for a slightly longer walk at the end of September, I organised a walk along Finchs Line at Wisemans Ferry. This is not a long walk, about 9.5 km, and it follows the line taken by one of the original routes of the Great North Road back around 1825. It was constructed by convict labour and winds steeply up a ridge from the Hawkesbury River plain. Undertaking the walk were Alex, his wife Tanya, Elgan, and Santosh from Bangalore. We had arranged to meet at the beginning of the walk around 8AM. It was a very foggy morning and rain showers were likely but was ideal conditions for walking - at least while dry.

Having started up the ridge, along a moderately easy stretch of the track we came to a steeper section after about 20 minutes. Easily visible here was one of the original dry-stone reatining walls erected by the convicts.

From a little further up the view down over the Hawkesbury was a slightly misty atmospheric scene.
On progressing further up the ridge (the total ascent is about 130 metres) Alex and Tanya had stopped to admire a pair of Black Cockatoos, which show some brilliant flashes of red tailfeathers when they fly. A little further on the ridge levels out and it is easy walking westward on undulating ground along the Northern side of the ridge.

Santosh and I were lagging behind the much quicker Alex and Tanya with Elgan bringing up the rear. Santosh related an experience which he had in the Indian Himalaya with his father when he spent a very cold night on a glacier!

Eventually the path crosses back to the Southern side of the ridge where a lookout allowed us to watch the vehicle ferry making a crossing toward our side of the river.
The township of Wisemans Ferry can be seen from the same viewpoint.
Progressing westward along the trail we came to another lookout point just above the Northern ferry landing place. Here are Alex, Tanya, and Elgan trying desperately not to take the quick way down to the ferry landing!
No rain had eventuated yet and, at this point, it was quite sunny and pleasant.

A little further on and there is a marker plaque with the single word 'Abandoned' above a short explanation. Shortly after Finchs Line had been completed Major Thomas Mitchell (of cockatoo fame) proposed and started another beginning to The Great North Road - Devines Hill. This avoid the steep, tight bends of Finchs Line and was constructed to very exacting standards with buttressed banks and extensive drainage control.

Continuing along the track we eventually joined up with the road at the top of Devines Hill. While we took a little breather there a few Mountain Bikers passed on their way northward.

From the bottom of Devines Hill the walk back to the cars is about 3.5 km along the river road which is fairly boring. Alex and Tanya decided that rather than do that they would head back along Finchs Line and meet us back at the cars.

Elgan, Santosh and I headed down Devines Hill which didn't seem as steep as I had been led to believe. Several other mountain bikers passed us on there way up, breathing heavily with the effort. I amused myself by greeting each one with a 'Gidday' - it is almost impossible to resist the impulse to respond when greeted - unless one is a total churl.

We paused several times going down the hill to view some of the examples of the engineers and convicts work like this low wall. A little further on we came to Hangman's Cave.


Some of the buttresses were put together like some of the examples of Mayan Temple stonework one sees.

Elgan atop a buttress and Santosh
contemplating the height of the wall

Evidence of the convict's work abounds on the other side of the road too with vertical drill holes - made laboriously with a triangular bar and sledgehammer - readily visible. Also visible on top of the buttresses were the marks made by convicts dressing the stone.


Being spring wildflowers abounded and many shrubs were also in flower,
At the bottom of the hill, Clares Bridge is reached - apparently one of the oldest bridges in Australia and then the walk back along the ferry road is uneventful.

Alexa and Tanya were enjoying a coffee when we arrived back at the cars and after a change of footwear we were on our way home and not a moment too soon. We had just arrived back at the ferry landing to wait for the next crossing when the rain began - now thats good timing!