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Report on the Examination of Crown Lands etc. in the County of Wellington
Appendix I. Exploration, County of Wellington - From Roger River to Marrawah Plain
Appendix II. Exploration 5700 acres State Forest Reserve - Parish of Lerunna
Appendix III. Parish of Warra
Appendix IV. Parish of Marrawah
Appendix V. Parish of Lerunna
Appendix VI. Parish of Riengeena
Appendix VII. V.D.L. Co's Woolnorth Block
Appendix VIII. Parish of Williams
Appendix IX. Parish of Togari
Appendix X. Parishes of Malompto and Terragomna
Appendix XI. Parish of Mowbray
Appendix XII. Parish of Ford
Appendix XIII. Parish of Poilinna
Appendix XIV. Parish of Gibson
Appendix XV. Parishes of Trowutta and Meryanna
Appendix XVI. Hunters Islands

Well. No. 1b.

APPENDIX IX.
Parish of Togari. (I)

      The Parish of Togari separated from Riengeena and the
Woolnorth Block on the west, by the Montagu River, joining Williams
on the North, is a large and most valuable parish consisting of the
low hills forming the watershed between the Montagu and Duck Rivers
and of flats draining into the former. Of about 50 square miles
in the parish, only 3,200 has been alienated and a very small
proportion of the remainder is third class. Two thirds of the
parish, from the eastern side is of somewhat similar character,
generally consisting of somewhat clayey grey soil and a few small
areas of basaltic country, only broken by the northern portion of
Brittons Swamp containing about 2,300 acres of fertile flat at the
head of Fixters Creek. This 20,000 acres of grey soil includes
about 2,000 acres of selected land, and most of the remainder is
held under timber lease, although the annual amount of timber
removed is very small in comparison with the area held. The grey
soil country is somewhat similar to that referred to in the other
parishes, and is practically all second class or first class flat,
or undulated high country, well watered as a rule, with numerous
small creeks, flowing in rather deep little gullies, the vegetation
comprising stringy bark, gum, myrtle, sassafras, lancewood, dogwood,
musk, cathead, laurel and treefern and swordgrass. The quality
naturally varies very much over such a large area but some of the land
brought under production has given most excellent results.
Brittons Swamp is estimated to contain about 1,800 acres, still
unalienated in the northern, or Togari end, exclusive of about
400 acres selected, and is of very high general quality, probably
equal to the Mowbray Swamp or nearly so, and carries titree,
blackwood, myrtle, sassafras, gum, cathead, laurel and manfern,
cutting grass etc. The swamp is oblong at right angles to the
prevailing winds, and is very well sheltered on three sides by
the low grey hills, portions of which included in the eventual
subdivision will give high land to nearly all the swamp lots.
Portions of this swamp are very wet, and although up to the present
no actual levels have been taken, I have little doubt there is
ample fall for drainage, and this can be easily proved at a
trifling cost. Probably very few drains would be required, other

Back to Harrisson 1928 introduction

Well. No. 1b.

APPENDIX IX.
Parish of Togari. (2)

than one along either side, to collect the water from the water
shed, before entering the flat. West of the hill country the
Montagu Valley contains a large area of good quality swamp and
flat, extending from the southern boundary of the parish, to about
a mile north of the Marrawah tram at the river, from whence a
strip extends under the hills to the parish of Williams, with
a few other good patches near the river. Most of this valley
above the tram is good alluvial land, and some of it is very rich,
but it also includes second class and doubtful country, as well as
patches of third class, and as a general rule, requires drainage.
Levels, as shown on litho, were taken many years ago, and proved
there is ample fall down the river, to drain the adjacent good
swamp land in this parish, which should amount to 4,000 or 5,000
acres. The Marrawah tramway runs for about 10 miles through this
Parish, but there is not more than 100 acres of improved selection
in the whole of that length, to provide permanent freight when the
depleted timber beds are finally exhausted, so the development of any
of the adjoining Crown Lands will be of vital importance to the
future upkeep of this tramway.
      When Britton's Swamp comes under production, a branch from
the Marrawah Tram will be required, probably along the Fixter Creek
Valley, through flat country, in order to relieve the long and
excessive haulage on the Christmas Hills - Smithton road. It is quite
possible to run this tram through Britton's Swamp and extend it on
through absolutely level country, to the Roger Valley and the present
Trowutta Railway. The Christmas Hills Road, which runs across the
centre of the Mowbray Swamp, is the natural extension westward from
Smithton of the Main Coast Road, and is level or nearly so, to within
half a mile of the Parish of Togari, where it rises with standard
grades to the plateau on the Parish boundary to where it is now
metalled. This road has already been metalled for about three miles
further, and formed for 1½ miles as far as Brittons, in the very centre
of the Parish, and at the extreme north end of the swamp. The new
Christmas Hills-Marrawah Road recently surveyed by Mr. C. M. Pitt, and
included in the State Road programme for which funds have been

Back to Harrisson 1928 introduction

Well. 1b.

APPENDIX IX.
Parish of Togari (3)

authorised, continues on from here, still diagonally across the parish
from N.E. to S.W., leaving the parish at the edge of the Montagu Flats.
The finished road – Smithton to Marrawah, – about 24½ miles in length,
when completed, will be almost unique in many respects, as it will be
within half a mile of two straights from end to end, will pass through
first or second class land for 90 per cent of the distance, tap, or
cross four valuable swamp areas (Mowbray, Brittons, Montagu and
Welcome), have level grades for at least 80 per cent of the distance,
and probably not exceed 300 feet in maximum elevation. Most of the
parish, as developed, will be naturally roaded from this main road,
and a few short branch roads have been already opened to most of the
selections. About 75 per cent of the Parish is within three miles
of the Marrawah tram, and the extreme S.E. corner is about twice that
distance, but only 3½ miles in a direct line from the Trowutta
railway station. As the Parish is almost wholly easy country, and
good land is within four miles of railway, tramway or main road, its
future development is particularly easy, except perhaps, that there
would appear to be rather a dearth of stone, gravel or other good
road-making material. The N.E. end of the parish is only five miles
in a direct line from the Post Office at Smithton, the leading town
in the Municipality. There is a post office and school at Christmas
Hills, a sawmill at the end of the present Christmas Hills road
connected by a wooden tram with the Marrawah tramway near Farnham's
Creek, two more along the latter tram and two just over the Parish
boundary in Mowbray and about 17,000 acres is shown as being held
under timber lease and 1,500 acres of lease surrendered. An examina-
tion of the terms of these leases show that 18 have averaged a term
of 11 1/3 years of which 6 1/3 years have elapsed and 5 years are yet
to run. Half this area should be cut out, yet I venture to say that
very few applications for selection in these areas would be approved.
Two large leases, totalling 3,000 acres, containing much good land on
the Marrawah tram, expire on the 1st September next, but it happens
that a lease, after being held for 10 or 14 years, is again wholly
leased, on the same original boundaries to the same lessee for another
long term, and so all progress is needlessly and wilfully delayed, as
it is unreasonable for such large areas to be locked up for an un-
limited time.

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