John Tennant was an Irish-born bushranger who was active around the Canberra district from 1826 to 1828. Mount Tennent is named after him as it was on the slopes of this steep mountain behind the village of Tharwa where he would hide.
John Gale in his book “Canberra, its history and legends” described Tennant in romantic terms stating: Tennant descending from his look-out (on Mount Tennent) would bail up a bullock dray - but only when his larder or wardrobe needed replenishing - terrorising the driver by presenting fire-arms and abstracting from the loading whatsoever he needed just then and order the man in charge of the team to drive on again. He never was known to use unnecessary violence or to wantonly destroy valuable cargo for what he had no need. Where Tennant stored his booty... was never discovered, not withstanding frequent and ... exhaustive searches to this end. The mountain had numerous caves and mazes well adapted... many never explored.
Thirty years ago, some mates and I walked all over this mountain looking for his treasure. We never found anything. So in the end I have had to hide my own “booty”.
The spot I have chosen is near the Cedar Tree lookout which is a lookout with good views of the road south from Tharwa if you are a bushranger and good views of a beautiful valley if you are a recreational walker having a pleasant morning or afternoon tea.
I suggest that you park at the Namadgi Visitors’ Centre and follow the track up Mt Tennent, until you get to the Cedar Tree lookout which has a seat and a crude table made of stones. I left the track here and walked to the geocache spot through open country with no significant bush-bashing or rock climbing. If the bushes seem thick or there are rocks in your way, they can all be easily walked around without adding any noteworthy distance to the stroll.
The round trip from the visitors centre is about 5km.