Lefroy and Back Creek

We had been working in the Lefroy/Beechford area last month, after doing some research of Lefroy we were surprised by it's fascinating history.  "Gold had been discovered in Lefroy, formerly know as Nine-Mile Springs, in 1872, but it wasn't until the 1890's that it became a large prosperous town with a population of around 5000.  Between 1870 and 1914, 190,000 ounces of gold were found at Lefroy. At today's prices this would be worth more than $300,000,000."  (Thank you Google)  

In it's heyday, Lefroy was the 4th largest town in Tasmania, today Lefroy is almost a ghost town with a population of about 82, according to the 2021 census.

There had been a notable population of Chinese residents in Lefroy during the goldrush, and Mr Ah Hung was a market gardener from Douglas, just along the road from Lefroy.  There was a Joss House, 4 churches, 5 pubs and several schools to meet the needs of the population.

This morning started with this amazing sunrise.

A drive over the Batman Bridge.

We arrive at Lefroy.

East Street.  No houses, no bitumen, just bushland.

The Lefroy Cemetery.

Some of the headstones were from 1880's

Some people died very young, others reached a ripe old age.

Some of the bushland along Douglas Street.  

There are still mineshafts.  

Enter at your own risk.

They looked like cobblestones along Douglas Street.

We took a dirt track off Douglas Street, 

and found a large group of snowdrop flowers.

We can only assume that there was a cottage there at some stage.

Lots of Snowdrops in the middle of the countryside.

The two apple trees that would have been in the 

market garden of Mr Ah Hung.

A partial map of Douglas.

Section 5 on the map in the name of 

Jemima Hung was the market garden.

The Death Notice for Mr Ah Hung.

His wife Jemima nee Cox was English 

and born in Hertfordshire.

Heading out of Lefroy towards Beechford.

One of the well maintained cottages in Lefroy

Another lovely cottage in Lefroy, 

said to be built in the early 1900's.

Off the beaten track.  An old shed roof on the ground in the bushland.

One of the many abandoned cars in the bush.

Lots of white heather growing in Lefroy.

Shaw Street in Lefroy today.

Shaw Street? in Lefroy circa 1900.

The plaque for the Avenue of Honour.

The Avenue of Honour, Lefroy.

Back Creek Road.

Sign for the Slate Mine in Back Creek Road.

A pile of slate at the disused mine.

You can just see two mounds of dirt from where 

someone is prospecting along Back Creek Road.

Old prospectors hut along Back Creek Road.

There were signs of life, so we didn't stop long.

Hoping they weren't dualling banjos.

Another prospectors site.  

Danger Man Traps Set.

Stay Out.

There is also farm land along Back Creek Road,

with an amazing herd of Long Horn Cattle.

This one posed nicely for me.