Title

View on the Wingecarribee River, New South Wales. [by Joseph Lycett].

Author

Author not identified

Source

[Not applicable]

Publication date

1825

Type

About the work

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

View on the Wingecarribee River, New South Wales.

THE powers of that great master of his art, whose representations of some of the rudest scenes of nature approach so near to the sublimity of Nature itself, were never exercised upon a subject more worthy of his transcendent genius, than that of which the present View, it is hoped, may convey some slight idea; although, to render justice to its prodigious grandeur, must be the work of some future master, whose pencil shall at least rival that of SALVATOR ROSA.

The WINGEE CARRIBBEE, on account of its wild, yet grand, scenery, may be considered one of the most remarkable Rivers hitherto dis­covered. It might with propriety be denominated the River of' the Cavern, for rocks of the most stupendous height rise on each side close to its banks, and shut out from view all other scenes of nature. During the entire course of the WINGEE CARRIBBEE there are only three points where glimpses of the adjacent country may be caught; and, of these three openings, that which affords the most extensive view has been selected, as best adapted to the design of the present Work.

This part of the River is about twenty-five miles distant from the pass over the NEPEAN RIVER, at the COW-PASTURES; and from hence it runs through a fine grazing country, and joins the WOLLONDILLY and WARRAGAMBA RIVERS, the latter of which empties itself into the Nepean, at Mulgoey, about twenty miles to the south of EMU FORD and PLAINS.

In the distance is shewn the high ground of Natal and Merigony Range, the chief part of which is fine grazing land, and is also well adapted for cultivation; but the great distance from the SYDNEY Market, to which there are at present no roads, renders the property in land, in this part of the island, less valuable than it would otherwise be.

The principal objects in the present View are the extraordinary rocks which, in stupendous masses, overhang the River. In some places these rocks rise almost perpendicularly to the height of more than three hundred feet, and in others they are formed into tiers, one mass towering over another with a grandeur almost terrific.

The lofty summits of these rocks are, notwithstanding their tremendous height, in a great degree covered with the different species of the Eucalyptus, and very fine specimens of the Casurina are also abundantly scattered in various parts, giving a strikingly-picturesque effect to the whole scene. The River itself is a fine object, being from eighty to a hundred feet in width, and in many places also of great depth; but it is navigable only by very small boats, on account of the impediments occasioned by the large masses of rocks with which it is filled, and, in dry seasons, by shallows.

The neighbouring country on both sides the WINGEE CARRIBBEE abounds with Kangaroos of the larger size, being of the forest kind. The natives obtain immense quantities of Eels from the River, which also produces shoals of an extraordinary fine-flavored fish, which is called Perch. Almost every species of Wild Fowl is met with in abundance, but particularly the Wood Duck and the common Black Duck.

Accompanying text, 1825.