Jackson Ularring Road

Hi there folks,

I was at Ularring with my father last weekend.

The main soak had water, the little known secondary soak had none.

The well south of the rock was quite deep. It had water at the bottom – Amazing that is still serves its purpose after over 100 years.

I will try to retrace the old Jackson to Ularring Road, a main road gazetted in 1900. (though I will start at Ularring)

Due west of Ularring was a track and I started to follow it. Now I must say that this may not be the actual original track however this was my first reconnaissance of the historical track so I am not being to fastidious with the exact line.

First stop was Maningu Soak. This is marked on most maps as a waterhole however not named. It took a while to find but spotted it away from the adjacent outcrop. It was dry – not surprising however over the years it would need maintenance.



Passing Yowie Rock we came to Gedagie Soak, we found it in a state of decomposition – I thought how much this well would have be relied on back in the day.



Coorara Soak was next on the track – I was surprised the original wood had not been removed or burnt. This was dry.



Yerilgee made itself known sooner than expected. A gnamma, and either a gnamma or a main made gnamma altered to fit a 1000 gallon tank.



Here the old track veered north west to Wogling, however the track we were on went to the south west to Kurrajong Rockhole, then an option to the north west to Wogling. We thought we could make out a faint track to the north west but decided to go to Kurrajong, as it would probably be quicker that going off track for 20 kms and the associated potential tyre repairs.

Kurrajong (or Currajong) is a nice large gnamma – it was dry – there were old timer inscriptions on the faces around the rockhole.



We arrived at the outcrop I presumed was Wogling, and we saw immediately a rockhole only 6 metres from the track.



Onto Dooling Soak. I only relied on a hunch as to were this may be. It was off the main track about 400 metres and was horrendously thick scrub. There was an old track but it was useless. I found a well which surely had not been looked at for many a year. I assume this is Dooling Soak however will stand corrected without prejudice if found incorrect.




From here I need to head to the south west if I was to continue along the old track. However, the bush was very thick thought it best to go back along the main track (to the south of Mount Manning Range).

I dearly wanted to find a track to the south. The are two main wells, Chatarie and Stinking Wells – Chatarie was not technically on the old track however was not far off it and was a substantial watering point.

Whilst on the main track heading west I thought I’d check Olby Rock. There is quite a few gnammas there – two of which have the original (or at least very old) wooden and stone covers, sunken low due to their age.




All the way round to the west and then south (via Die Hardy Range) I looked for a way in Chatarie to no avail. Very thick bush and no tracks.

I think these wells will need a quad bike to search in the future some time.

Marda still had plenty of water and the Jackson Freemasons Lodge still remains a testament to times past.

As I say this was my first recon of the track so it will probably be altered or fine tuned in the future.

Oh yes I saw my first Tawny Frogmouth in the wild too!!!

Cheers
Alan