For those acquainted with the renown Australian novel written by John Marsden, Tomorrow When the War Began, the location of this cache will give you an idea of the inspiration behind the novel’s setting. John Marsden says it best himself “Hell is a reasonably accurate description of Terrible Hollow. Small cliffs, like steps, descend into the hollow, and are known as the Devil’s Staircase. Tailor’s Stitch is the Crosscut Saw, a long ridge of rock which runs for miles from Mt Howitt to Mt Speculation, through Big Hill and Mt Buggery.
It is generally accepted by locals that a hermit did live in or around Mt Howitt and the Terrible Hollow for many years. There were eyewitness sightings, particularly in the late 1970s. In 1986 a hiker, Scott Vickers-Willis, found a beautifully carved handmade walking stick concealed in a bush on the edge of the Terrible Hollow. I have seen this stick, which is still in Mr Vickers-Willis’ possession; its discovery, in such a remote and wild part of the world, lends startling support to the hermit theory.”
This cache is located on the high side of the Terrible Hollow as we don’t want to be responsible for your descent into hell…….or would we?
A beautiful area with some magnificent vantage points, it is little wonder this beautiful part of the Victorian High Country offered inspiration to a piece of literature.
Enjoy the area and the cache.