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| As
we scrambled up the small ravines, cracks & long drops, we finally
entered the sleeping chambers for the police during the cold days
and frosty nights, they spied on the Byrne Homestead. The underground
chamber was, very cool, the flies were nil, and as Bruce explained
it was " a home away from home " |
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| On
Saturday August 30th, Bruce Johnson
and myself, organized a fine trip into the heart of Byrne Country,
the police caves,
used by Superintendent Hare and party, to spy on the Byrne Homestead,
during late 1879 to mid 1880.
THE BYRNE STABLES, LEFT ONE LOOKING UP TO THE CAVE. Bruce
picked me up from my home in Glenrowan at 8: 30 sharp, and we headed
for Beechworth, sure, we got a little lost, turned a few wrong roads,
but, after a little good thinking by Bruce, we were back on the
right track. We entered Beechworth, and headed for Aaron's grave,
we found him successfully. We
pushed off, and began the journey towards the caves. After walking
past the Byrne Homestead, and across a huge property, we reached
the foot of the hill, leading up to the caves. Our walk began, we
talked of how good it was going to be when we hit the cave, a few
brief stops to catch our breaths and off we went. Eventually,
we arrived at the cave, and what a spectacular view it was, it took
us some time to release how to actually enter the cave, after an
hour or so, we discovered the way in. Once inside, it was so tight
you couldn't move your arms to either side, me being costerphobic,
exited a few times, before gaining Bruce's reassurance, we finally
climbed over the gigantic boulders.
INSIDE THE SLEEPING AREA As
we scrambled up the small ravines, cracks & long drops, we finally
entered the sleeping chambers for the police during the cold days
and frosty nights, they spied on the Byrne Homestead. The underground
chamber was, very cool, the flies were nil, and as Bruce explained
it was " a home away from home
" We
took several photographs, filmed and crept around the small cave.
I couldn't believe the history I could feel inside this small caves,
there was ' The sleeping rock ' which
was a rock, emerging from the dusty floor, in the clear formation
of a pillow, undoubtedly where Superintendent Hare would have slept.
VIEW FROM THE CAVES LOOKING ONTO THE BYRNE HOMESTEAD As
the hours ticked away, we decided we should be pushing off, back
towards where we left Bruce's car. It seemed walking down was even
harder than the original walk up, I thought my knee's were going
to drop off! Eventually hitting the bottom was a relief, and walked
our way across the huge paddock, and stopped for a brief look at
' Joe's outlaw ' days home. MIKE LAWSON
      
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