Diggers flocked to the area from Tooloom in the early 1870’s however most of the local population had departed by 1890. Some went back to Tooloom to try their luck.
There are no visible remains of the gold era, and with the breaking up of local cattle stations, the diggings are now on private property.
This remote location does have some significant Australian military history.
During World War II, low profile, defensive positions were established along many roads throughout Australia.
The Tank Traps at Paddy’s Flat on the Clarence River were part of the second line of defence against the feared Japanese invasion of northern Australia – thwarted by the US Navy’s victory against the Japanese Imperial Navy at the Battle of Midway 1942. At the time as many as 10,000 troops were camped in the region.
There are 26 concrete pyramids that were cast onsite and then connected together by a steel cable in the river. Timber posts were also buried in the ground on the bank on either side of the river. After the war was over, they were dragged up on the bank on the southern side of the river.
A flood in 2011 exposed the concrete pyramids.
The old causeway crossing… every board is loose!
The Clarence River
The WW2 Tank Traps
The exploration machine… Tenere 700
There is a video of the trip through the area here… be warned, it is about backroads on a motor bike.
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