122 Daley, Notes of a Visit to Mallacoota Inlet. [voi''*^xxxiV. 



dangerous reef. Farther on to the north, along the wooded 

 coast, the outHne of Red Bluff indicates proximity to the line 

 and well-sheltered harbour of Twofold Bay. A quaint square 

 tower of massive build stands on the south headland at the 

 entrance. It was originally erected for the purposes of a light- 

 house by Ben. Boyd, an early pioneer of great enterprise ; 

 but, owing to inability to satisfy the conditions as to permanent 

 lighting, permission to use a light was refused, and the tower 

 remains to-day as a fit memorial of its builder. 



Coming into the bay, we see the town of Eden, situated on a 

 promontory dividing two circling bays of large extent, second 

 only to Sydney Harbour in length of coast-line. The position 

 of the town at first sight is striking, resembling somewhat a 

 verdure-surrounded, castled town on the heights of some old- 

 world river. The blending of colour reminds one of amethyst 

 and emerald. To the south-west the bold peak of Mount 

 Imlay dominates the landscape. A fleecy cloud rests on its 

 summit, and the scarlet and gold of a setting sun gloriously 

 define its outline, and make a striking and beautiful picture. 

 Forest-clad hills extend almost to the water's edge, and tlie 

 setting of the town is a very charming one. Mount Imlay was 

 named after Dr. Imlay, a colonist of the " forties," a station- 

 holder who dealt largely in stock as far inland as the Winuiiera 

 River, where in 1843 he had a station called " Decameron." 



Eden is a settlement of historic interest, famous in former 

 days as a chief station of the whaling industry, which is still 

 occasionally carried on in open boats when whales resort to the 

 shelter of the harbour or arc dri\-en into it by tlu' " killers " 

 for which Twofold Bay is noted. The iiarboiu- entrance is 

 one mile and a half wide, with a minimum depth of 42 feet. 

 Tlie old settlement at Boyd To\sn, with its quaint church and 

 substantial l)uildings, is situated on tlie inner harbour, near 

 the Kiah or Towamba River, and is full of interest. The 

 " trying-out " station of the whaling industry is placed near 

 the Kiah estuary. Eden has a population of about 350 persons, 

 and will at some future day, with railway communication, be 

 an ideal seaside resort, as it possesses a salubrious climate, 

 good facilities for batliing and fishing, and an environment of 

 great natural beauty. A daily mail service connects it with 

 Bega to the north, and regular ocean communication is main- 

 tained with Mell)ourne and Sydney, from which it is distant 

 350 and 210 miles respectively. 



At 6 a.m. I left lulen by coach for Genoa River, 45 miles 

 distant. For some miles up and down hill the road skirts the 

 bay, the intervening valleys being covered with thick growth 

 of ferns, climlxrs, and myrtaceous plants, gmus and acacias, 

 banksias, hazel, musk, sassafras, and " lilh-pillies," whilst 



