4WD Reconnaissance - Mayford - Blue Rag Range

VEHICLE MUST CARRY:
- Basic 4x4 Recovery Gear. Minimum - Snatch Strap and 2 bow shackles.
- Tool Kit - Basic tools for your vehicle, spanners, socket set etc. 
- Fire Extinguisher.
- UHF CB or UHF CB hand held Radio.
- Everyone, to carry their personal I.C.E information Download here
  Click here for more information

COMMUNICATIONS:
- There is no Mobile Phone reception in this area.
- UHF CB is required for vehicle to vehicle communications on the MVB club channel 27 for the trip. 
Click here to learn more about UHF CB radio.
- I will have HF Radio equipment and GPS Spot for Emergencies. GPS Live Tracking will be running 
live. A link will be placed on this page closer to departure for all those who are interested.

There will be a GPX file uploaded for those who wish to install the route into their GPS closer to the date of departure.

OPTIONAL:
- Air Compressor
- Tyre Pressure Gauge (Will be reducing tyre pressures on the 4WD trails)
- First Aid Kit
- Battery Jumper Leads

Mayford is a place Kathleen and I had not explored before but has been on our bucket list for many years.
We keep on driving passed it to get to other destinations so join us on this one to venture into the unknown.

Mayford once promised to be a booming mining township on the Upper Dargo Goldfield. In 1866 the government had suburban lots and streets laid out and surveyed anticipating a growing township, however only one site was occupied by a store run by the King family. Gold was first discovered downstream from Mayford in the early 1860s, and a rush occurred to the upper tributaries when rich gold was apparently discovered by Jimmy Bloomfeild in 1863. Bloomfield later became lost during a snow storm in returning to the location. Mayford was located along a mining track linking Omeo to the Dargo High Plains and Grant, originally blazed by Angus McMillan in 1861.

During the 1860s an ancient river bed was worked at varying depths below the basalt of the Dargo Plains. Principal workings were off King's Spur above Mayford where Sinnott and party opened out a face of gravel deposits, then tunnelled into the wash for some distance. The basalt crust of the Dargo and Bogong High Plains was formed by massive volcanic eruptions covering and disturbing the watercourses as they then existed. The present river valleys have formed since the volcanic era leaving the old beds at higher
altitudes. The creeks falling from the Dargo Plains, in which gold has been found, have generally obtained their deposits by cutting through the old leads (or ancient stream beds). It is where these leads have been cut that auriferous gravels may be found on the slopes.
There was little doubt that these high level leads were auriferous throughout; however, the distribution of gold through the great thickness of the leads was such that it could only be profitably mined on a large scale, and with ample water supply for hydraulic sluicing methods.
Across the Dargo valley at Mount Tabletop, Armour & Co. had similar ambitions to Sinnott and so did Morris's party at Boiler Plain. At Brandy Creek on the Cobungra fall were the most successful of the high lead workings known as ‘White's’; which was worked successfully on a larger scale during the 1880s.

 

Blue Rag Range - Mt Blue Rag

Blue Rag Range Track is a spectacular off road adventure.
Mount Blue Rag is the highest point of the track at an elevation of 1726m above the sea level. There are many excellent photo opportunities. Don't forget your camera with fully charged batteries. Awesome 360 degree views at the summit. We will make a decision at this point whether we continue down to the Wongungarra River.