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THE HIGHLANDS OF LAKE ST. CLAIR. 

 By Col. W. Y. Leuge, E.A., F.G.S. 



In the following paper an effort is made to describe tlie 

 topographical features of Mounts King William and 

 Olympus, and to touch upon the magnificent scenery whi6ti 

 surrounds these grand highlands of western Tasmania. 



After the traveller crosses the Clarence Eiver, some ten 

 miles from Marlborough and draws near Lake St. Clair, he 

 emerges from the forest upon the button-rush plains on 

 the north of Mount Charles, and first becomes aware of the 

 altered character of the scenery awaiting him as he journeys 

 towards the west. In addition to the bold mural outlines, 

 characteristic of the greenstone districts of the island, and 

 which are here also a marked feature in the landscape, 

 peaked mountains rise up grandly here and there among the 

 adjacent bluffs, and add a new and grand feature to the 

 country. Thus, from the plains near Mount Charles, the 

 peaks of Mount Byron and Mount Hugel come into view, 

 and, mingling with the precipitous bluffs of Mount Olympus 

 and King William, form a view not easily forgotten. 



The newly formed track, which it is to be hoped will a no 

 distant date become the main road from Hobart to the West 

 Coast, passes to the north of Mount Charles, a forest-clad 

 tier with an altitude of about 3,300 feet, and on the north side 

 of the flat ground over which the track passes is another range, 

 whichis in reality the southern edge of the higher Lake plateau 

 running westward till stopped by the gorge which contains 

 Lake St. Clair. The small Traveller Lakes lie a little way 

 back on this upland, and discharge theirwaters by the small and 

 rocky TravellerEiverintotheDerwent, about two miles fromthe 

 lake. The road crosses the Traveller just beyond Mr. Orr's 

 hut on a substantial bridge, about a mile from the junction of 

 the stream with the river, and in another half mile or so the 

 latter is reached, where a fine wooden bridge gives access to 

 the "Wild West." The elevation of this bridge, and in fact of 

 the whole track from Marlborough to King William, allowing 

 for rise and fall, is about 2,300 feet. Between the Traveller 

 and the Derwent is a small button-rush plain, bounded by the 

 characteristic clumps of small gums, locally called " sapling 

 banks," and studded here and there with those gaunt sentinels, 

 frost killed gums, which so often mar the beauty of the Lake 

 Country. From here, and nowhere is there a better stand- 

 point than the little bridge over the Traveller, a grand view is 



