Coliban Main Channel book: Errata

The Coliban Main Channel: A Walking Guide 

Early Print Run

The first 50 copies had a number of errors which were rectified in subsequent print runs. These mostly comprised some incorrect links to other pages in the text. In addition, this print run didn't include a historic photo of the Myrtle Creek Flume (courtesy of the Kyneton Historical Society) which in subsequent print runs was included at the bottom of page 100. The photo of the Natural Vegetation Community which appeared on this page in the early print run was moved to the bottom of page 102 in later editions. 

Page 3: The photo of Joseph Brady is reversed. I thought I'd obtained the photo from the State Library online image collection but I haven't been able to find it again. Nevertheless, I should have realised that the buttons of a man's suit top lie on the right breast not the left as in this photo.

Page 5: Gold was discovered in Central Victoria in 1851 (of course!) not 1861.

Page 7: I was sure the location given by the State Library for this photo was No.1 Reservoir, Maple Street, Bendigo but I've since learnt it's much more likely to be a view of No.7 Reservoir, Kangaroo Flat, in 1861 which actually makes far more sense.

Page 13: It's been pointed out to me that, with all the asides and historical press reports, it's difficult to follow the walk instructions. That is indeed a mistake on my part. When leaving the carpark, remember to cross over the footbridge at the bottom of the hill. You will then be on the south side (reservoir side) of the channel. You can then resume your walk along the channel access track. Put simply, always stay within a few metres of the Coliban channel, except for the very last section where you leave the channel to return via the Adamson Street Extension.

Page 48, line 3: I misremembered Malcom's surname. It's in fact Tyquin (being a direct descendant of the early landowner here). My confusion stemmed from the fact that Ron Phillips owns land on the east side of Back Creek. Ron stressed to me that it's dangerous entering his property from Calder Highway via the Coliban Water access track if cattle are grazing there. They can attack without warning, especially if a walker is unwise enough to bring a dog on to the property.

Page 101: The State Library gives the location of the historic photo on this page as follows: "Early development work on Malmsbury Reservoir, pre 1900". Nothing about this photo suggests that it was at or near Malmsbury Reservoir.  Despite this, I now believe that my conclusion that the photo was taken at a location just north of Myrtle Creek Faraday is incorrect. Refer to my more thorough investigation of this photo on this website. Reading Location Clues: Coliban Channel Work Crew

Page 105: The 'skew' flume just past the Whisky Gully syphon is described in the book as consisting of two separate flumes (Flumes 3 and 4). I now believe that in the early 1870's they were considered to be one flume even though the two sections were at an angle to one another (par. 2, page 114). This means that Flume 4 which was on sidling ground (meaning on a steep section of ground) isn't at the location marked on the map on page 105. It must be some distance north but before Flume 5. The later creation of an access track and the subsequent changing of the topography means that it's unclear exactly where Flume 4 was located.

Page 115: The photo at the bottom of the page isn't Flume 3 looking south-west. It's of Flume 10, looking south-west. The process by which I came to this realisation will be dealt with in a separate blog. The Coliban Main Channel: Flume 10

Page 148: The caption under the top photo should be 'Cuneens Gully flume outlet, looking south'

Page 193: If you follow the directions on the bottom of the page for The Three Reservoirs Circuit Walk (see map page 184) you will end up back at No 7 Reservoir where you might have started but you won't reach the Big Hill High Level reservoir. The bottom paragraph should read: "When you reach the embankment, turn left to follow the lakeside track. In about 800 metres you will reach a crossroads. Turn right, away from the reservoir and right again at the next road intersection. In about 100 metres turn left on to an unnamed track. In about 500 metres you will cross (Robinson) Crusoe Gully, a name which pre-dated the construction of the reservoir. In another 400 metres you will come to the Specimen Hill Channel and another track junction".