Apsley Falls

Yesterday, we took a short (?) trip to visit the Apsley Falls about 80km from Armidale near the town of Walcha (population < 2000). It was a brilliantly sunny and warm day for this time of year - about 24 degrees C even though it's the start of April. Imagine that temperature in Britain in October!

The falls are very beautiful, as the pictures show, and fortunately the river's strong flow ensured a spectacular display. There are two falls, the first dropping 65 metres (213 ft) and the second drops a further 58 metres (190 ft) metres to the bottom of the gorge. So, the total is 270 m (or over 400 ft). They are part of the Oxley-Wild Rivers National Park, which lies SE of Armidale and covers a humongous area. At the maximum extent, it's 70km east-west and about 80km north-south, but parts are non-contiguous. It contains large numbers of spectacular falls, some the highest in Australia, and lots of walking tracks and specially constructed look-outs to admire the extensive views.

Back to the falls. They were discovered by John Oxley, who had been appointed Surveyor-General of NSW in 1812. Oxley was one of the country's greatest explorers and clearly believed that his title did not tie him to a desk! The date of discovery was 13 September 1818 and he first named them the Bathurst Falls after his previous expedition to the Lachlan valley starting at Bathurst in the NSW Central West in 1817. He thought it one of the most magnificent waterfalls he'd seen.

By the way, I think there is a link between Apsely Falls and Apsley House in London, but I haven't managed to trace it. Oxley was exploring at roughly the same time the Duke of Wellington was successful on the battle-field, but the link could be indirect. Ah! I think I've found it: Colonial Secretary Lord Bathurst (after whom Bathurst was named) owned Apsley House, which sold to one Arthur Wellesley!

AS