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7 walkers met at the Wynyard Bus stop and alighted at Balmoral Naval Hospital, Middle head Rd, Mosman.
We set out to explore Middle head, a nationally significant Historic site and part of Sydney Harbour National Park since 1979.
The buildings and fortifications demonstrate different themes of military history.
Located at the entrance to Sydney harbour the headland provided a perfect location for defence. The extensive network of tunnels
and gun emplacements remain.
The self tour map with numbers and symbols corresponding to locations enabled us to experience the detailed history.
The natural vegetation, sheer sandstone cliffs and views of the harbour spectacularly compliment these structures.
We enjoyed morning tea overlooking the harbour entrance.
After completing the loop we returned to Middle Head Rd and decided to extend our walk to the Don Goodsir track to the 1801 Fort,
built in response to a feared French invasion.
This return 300m track leads through bushland where Elizabeth spied a snake basking on sandstone beside the track,
but it disappeared before the photographers dashed back.
The track remembers Don who campaigned to return the military area to public use.
The bushland track took us uphill beside Middle Head Rd and passed the Burnt Orange café built in the 1920’s to be the Clubhouse
for Mosman Golf Club when Middle Head was cleared for a 9 hole golf course.
The track met the headland park walking track to descend to Balmoral Beach.
Aileen encouraged us to find the Lawry Plunkett reserve behind the beach which contains remnants of the Balmoral tramway
system that operated from 1922 to 1958, including an impressive sandstone cutting.
Coffee was integrated with lunch beside a Morton Bay Fig while Elizabeth and Anne took the opportunity to cool off with a swim.
Walkers: Annette, Aileen, Elizabeth P, Barbara. Visitor: David R
Led by: Anne G, Lilian K
Words : Anne G
Photos : Anne G (9), Barbara R (6,7,8) , Lilian (1,2,3,4,5,10,11)
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