|
Amongst the early inhabitants of New South Wales was a botanist,
George Caley, who had come out at the instance of sir Joseph Banks
in 1800. Energetic and resourceful, he was a man admirably suited
for pioneering work and, through the chief duty for which he had
come to the colony was the collection and classification of
botanical specimens, he still found time for ornithological and
exploratory pursuits. It is of his exploration that worthy merit is
mentioned for many of the early pioneers his endeavours were ill
rewarded and well-nigh forgotten.
In 1801, soon after his arrival in the colony, Caley undertook
several short journeys beyond Prospect westward and south-westward
towards the Nepean and Liverpool. Subsequently in that year he
traced part of the course of the Nepean, which had been discovered
in 1789, and made a journey to Mount Hunter, an eminence some miles
west of Camden.
From this point it was anticipated that an expansive view of the
Blue Mountains would be presented but the outlook was deceptive
because only the lower slopes of the ranges were visible, and Caley,
remarked casually that "they did not deserve the name of mountains"
and were merely high hills. Thereupon he resolved to explore them
and was destined within a few years to alter his impression.
Traced the Nepean
In the next two years all Caley’s spare time seems to have been
spent in the central Nepean area, Not only did he trace the course
of the Nepean over parts not previously known but he also explored
thoroughly and defined the boundaries of the Cowpastures, then known
as Vaccary Forest. Which was to become the birthplace of the wool
industry. It was during these expeditions that he discovered the
Warragamba River some miles above its junction with the Nepean and
the headwaters of Blue Gum Creek, a tributary of the Nattai River at
Picton Lakes.
Soon after his return from the Cowpastures in 1804 Caley organized
an expedition to make a bold assault on the Blue Mountains from
Richmond. After six days of difficult traveling over Kurrajong
heights, across the swampy headwaters of Burralow Creek, and along
the northern brink of the chasm in which the Grose River runs, the
party reached Mt Tomah (Table Hill). The rugged nature of the
country had by this time dispelled the idea Caley had previously
held that the mountains were merely high hills and although his men
were sorely fatigued he persuaded them to continue westward.
Reached Mount Banks
Six days later, after crossing the heads of of deeply entrenched
creeks and scaling broken sandstone escarpments and buttresses, the
party reached Mount Banks, which Caley named after his benefactor
Sir Joseph Banks. This prominent feature, now known as Mount King
George, had been Caley’s immediate objective and from it he obtained
expansive views in all directions particularly towards the coast,
the country around Prospect, which he had left over a fortnight
before being clearly visible.
From the barren top of Mount banks below which the Grose River flows
peacefully in a yawning chasm of abhorrent depth by him called the
Devil’s Wilderness. Caley stared into the western fastness of the
mountains. He saw no large valleys except the one below, and the
ground rising gradually towards the horizon appeared swampy and
scrubby. He relates that "by these appearances it might be imagined
easy to travel over that space provided the inaccessible valley
close at hand was crossed. Yet" his diary continues, "there is no
doubt but what others of a similar nature would present themselves
as I am too well convinced now of their rugged and impassible
state."
Caley realized, with the stock of provisions diminishing and the
spirit and enthusiasm of his men extinguished – himself fatigued and
almost exhausted - that further progress was not possible, and with
disappointment he returned to Sydney. The journey had been
accompanied by such hardships that Caley suffered from its ill
effects for some time afterwards for, as Governor King said, it was
so hazardous "that it could only have been undertaken by a man
possessing the bodily strength and enthusiastic mind of Caley."
Later Explorations
Caley visited Burragorang Valley in 1806 near where Barrallier had
made a depot a few years earlier, and he confirmed the account which
that explorer had given of good forest land and fertile soil which
could be developed for agriculture. It has also been suggested that
he made a final attempt to cross the mountains from Emu Plains but
there is little to support this conclusion other than the existence
of a cairn of stones near Linden which Governor Macquarie named
Caley’s Repulse.
How unfortunate it is that a man of such outstanding ability and
courage – a pioneer in the true sense of the word – was not able to
achieve the success the he deserved. Indirectly however his
knowledge and ability were instrumental in gaining the coveted
objective of a route over the mountains in 1813, for it was he who
suggested to Lawson, one of the members of the successful party, the
plan of climbing the main ridge between the watersheds of the Grose
and Warragamba Rivers and following it to the western plains.
Without derogation from the performance of Blaxland, Wentworth and
Lawson, let it be remembered that it was Caley and men of his
calibre undaunted and enthusiastic, who made the crossing of the
mountains possible
|
