196 SHOALHAVEN GULLIES. 



rived at Mr. Shelly 's farm on the '* Grampian 

 Hills." Proceeding six miles beyond, we crossed 

 the splendid new road, forming a portion of the 

 great southern line : it was wide, yet imbeaten ; 

 a dense forest bounding it on either side as far 

 as the eye could reach, the felled trees being 

 placed along, to point out the breadth of the 

 road. This did not appear requisite, as the thick 

 forest sufficiently indicated it. 



At a short distance further on, we turned 

 off the more direct road, and arrived at Mr. 

 Barber's farm, close to which commences the 

 extraordinary and extensive fissure, called the 

 " Shoalhaven Gullies," extending through a 

 large tract of country to the sea coast. This 

 farm possesses natural beauties of a sublime 

 and romantic character ; but the soil is princi- 

 pally rocky, and does not seem to possess the va- 

 luable requisites to a settler, that of arable land 

 and good sheep pasturage, in any quantity. To 

 a visitor, however, the romantic beauties of the 

 Gullies are sufficient objects of attraction ; and, 

 accompanied by Mr. Hume, senior, I was taken, 

 at a very short distance from the house, to as 

 splendid a scene as has been perhaps yet dis- 

 covered in this interesting and peculiar coun- 

 try. I much regret that time did not permit 

 me to make a closer examination of these gullies, 



