Local Government
Toodyay
Region
Avon Arc
Chittering Rd Moondyne
Avon Valley national Park
Toodyay
Avon Arc
Constructed from 1878, Constructed from 1877
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 01 Dec 2012 |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 11 Jan 2013 | Category 1 | |
The Cairn has scientific value as it demonstrates the methods of early survey techniques of the 19th century. The place has historic value as it is associated with Sir John Forrest, explorer, surveyor and politician. It represents the first exploration and subsequent settlement of the Avon Valley in the Toodyay Shire and therefore has historic value.
The site lies amongst the undualting hills and gullies of the Avon Valley National Park on top of a hill. The site overlooks a watercourse (approx 500 m away) to the south and west. To the north is private property. Local geology is pisolithic conglomerate (coffee rock), orange, yellow and brown with isolated boulders/domes of granite in the surrounding areas. The site is located 115m south of the survey heritage trail and 3.2 km east of Plunkett Road. The Site is signposted and there are markers on the walk trail leading to the area. The place consists of a stone surveyor's cairn, approx 1.9m by 1.9m ub area, 1.2m high, composed of rocks arranged in a vaguely conical shape. The rocks themselves are composed of the same conglomerate coffee rock, on average 40cm in size. At the top/centre of the cairn is a pole of bush timber, approx 25 cm protrusing from the top of the rocks. The wood has been severely damaged by termites. However, the cairn as a whole appears stable with no signs of collapse of shifting.
The cairn is one of the markers constructed during a survey of the Swan and Avon Valleys by the Department of Lands and Surveys in 1877‐1878, designated ‘DP’. The triangulation survey team was led by John Forrest (1847‐1918) who was a significant figure in the historiy of Western Australia. He was influentital in the exploration of Western Australia as a surveyor and later moved into politics where he achieved the distinction of being the first Premier of Western Australia until his election in 1901 to the first Federal Government. Several survey markers or 'trig' points are located throughout the Swan and Avon Valleys and these now form part of the Avon Valley Survey Heritage trails opened in January 1996 in recognition of the pioneering achievements of Sir John Forrest. Theme: 105 ‐ Exploration
Integrity: High Authenticity: High
Good
Other Built Type
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | OTHER | Other |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Other | STONE | Other Stone |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.