Sabine & John's Bespoke Adventures
- Anthony Coulson
- May 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 19
Rediscovering Western Tasmania's Mysterious Past: A Journey Through History
Rediscovery of Western Tasmania's mysterious past pining, mining, and other associated sites is a curiosity-driven pursuit. This curiosity and intrigue, combined with a love for the unique cool temperate rainforest environment, create an adventurous form of recreation. The terrain often poses serious traverse challenges, but that only adds to the excitement.
Engaging Experiences in Queenstown
The majority of people who visit Queenstown and seek interactive experiences leave happy and satisfied. They explore ancient forests and long-disused sites. Some visitors become enchanted by the pristine environment, the relics, and the stories of pioneering activity. They often return to this wild frontier, desiring personalized adventures that we plan with local knowledge and logistical capabilities.
Recently, Sabine and John, an intrepid couple who enjoyed our advertised experiences, returned for more adventures. This time, they were inspired by another Tasmanian outdoorsy identity. Rob Parsons is a spirited adventurer and a popular Vlogger. When Sabine and John viewed a video log on Rob's channel featuring some disused Western Tasmanian rail infrastructure, they contacted us again. They requested a full day of bespoke adventure that would include the site Rob had vlogged.
Planning Our Adventure
For us, this was a "Mission Accepted" moment. We loosely planned a fun expedition. The only definitive aspect was to take in the site that Rob had vlogged months prior. Planning is kept flexible to accommodate spontaneous side adventures along the way. After a few email exchanges, we finalized our route. The site Rob documented was familiar territory, so we knew we could easily incorporate additional highlights.
A few months later, we gathered for the obligatory morning greeting and pre-departure briefing over coffee at our home base, THE PARAGON THEATRE.
A Bumpy Start
We became busy with river rafting expedition logistics leading up to our bespoke event. It took me a little time to get back on track. I couldn't recall our past activities in detail, so we decided to head out on our favorite "wow" experience: the Mt Owen 4x4 adventure.
As we selected low-range 4x4 and headed up the access track, I suddenly realized we'd done this trip before. Oops! However, the previous trip was cloudy, and this time we enjoyed splendid views, so everything turned out fine.
This repeat experience allowed us to check out the old Gormanston mine offices. Today, the site remains mostly unrecognizable, with only the miners' payroll strongroom visible. This strongroom is located near the still-visible old Gormanston gravel football oval, where the toughest players once competed in Aussie rules.
Intrepid Explorers
"Intrepid" is an appropriate description for these repeat visitors. After descending from Mt Owen and completing our Gormanston explorations, we returned to The Paragon for a quick morning break. After loading equipment and one of Joy's pre-packed lunches, we set off for an adventure that would be a first for John and Sabine. This site has tested the resolve of all previous visitors.
Reaching this site requires proper 4x4 capabilities, followed by a short hike through the understory of a rare mixed forest of Huon and King Billy pines. This area is reserved for the most adventurous of our guests and is a newly introduced addition to our regularly frequented old Piners and Miners works. Here, Huon and King Billy pines were harvested, and gold-rich quartzite was mined with tunnels dug over a century ago.
Tentatively, we walked through the square-cut portal into the main drive.
This old show is a prime example of pioneering works that pursued Huon Pines and reef gold in the dark, wet forests of Western Tasmania. Our senses tingled as we explored this bona fide lost mine. As we relaxed, we observed the thick canopy of tea tree, blackwood, leatherwood, and sassafras. While enjoying a Paragon lunch, we envisioned a landscape once devastated by timber cutting and fluming down into the Queen River valley. Most valuable species were milled for timber value, while much was used as furnace fuel. The remnants witnessed nature's vigorous reforestation efforts.
The Development of Mining Infrastructure
Pioneering large-scale mining developments required supporting infrastructure such as smelters and railways. Rob's vlog inspired John and Sabine to return to Tasmania's wild west. The old railway site they wanted to visit is 40 km from Queenstown. As planned, we had ample time to explore some sites that would shed light on why the railway relic site was developed.
Silver-rich ore was smelted near Zeehan from several mines. We thought it would be a delightful idea to visit some of these old sites on our way. More 4x4 driving was needed to reach the Silver Queen mine.
Late 19th and early 20th-century mine and smelter developments necessitated the use of supporting rail infrastructure. This site was significant to Sabine and John during their visit.
Mission Accomplished
And just when we thought the adventure was over, we bestowed an unexpected bonus upon our guests. We introduced a new point of interest from our interesting things to see and do catalogue. This tour, called 'BOOM & BUST', collaborates with another fantastic business here, Penghana House.
This delightful addition was a thank you for our wonderful guests, and it encapsulated the essence of their adventurous spirit and our dedication to showcasing the magic of Tasmania’s wild west.
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