Outram – Allanton Flood Bank

Outram 10 km /  Henley 21 km – from car park.

Outram, Allanton, Floodbanks, Lee Stream, Traquair, Whare Creek – Information and Trips Library


4. 25/10/2023. Hikers. Outram Loop. Grade 1.5, 11km, Leaders: Sue Nichol, Kathryn Fagg.

image (1) Square RES150x150Outram turned on another scorcher for 16 hikers. We started at the West Taieri Rugby Club and walked around Kings Court and Anzac Court subdivisions where the gardens were in full bloom. Morning tea was on the green by Outram Bridge…

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Morning tea (photo and caption Helen)

… then along the riverbank where Cathy Ferguson filled us in on the history of her lovely home Balmoral.

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Kathryn’s home built 1857 (photo and caption Helen)

We enjoyed the riverbank walk where we saw lovely gardens and plenty of farm animals. Had lunch overlooking farmland and the Taieri River. Then down Melanie and Rodney Ruxton’s farm road where we saw lovely historical farm buildings…

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Lovely old building (photo and caption Helen)
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Lovely old building (photo and caption Helen)
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And another one (photo and caption Helen)

… and a beautiful old homestead.

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Abbotsford built 1885 (photo and caption Helen)
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Taieri World Ploughing Championships cairn 1994 (photo and caption Helen)

 

On leaving we looked at the cairn that was built to celebrate the World Ploughing Championships that were held on the property in 1994.

 

Then it was down Allanton Road to the West Taieri Rugby Club and an ice cream to follow at the local 4 Square.

 

The hike was approx. 12km.

Sue and Kathryn


3. 3/5/2017. Both. Outram-Allanton Flood Bank. E. Leaders: Judy K, Lester.

Today’s tramp saw a very special milestone for the Club, with a celebration of life member Molly Vaughan’s 90th birthday.  Molly has been a member of the Club for 30 years and still tramps regularly.

In recognition of this great achievement 28 members, including Molly and her son Marty …

Clive pic.

… from Busselton in Western Australia, walked the stop-bank from Outram to Allanton, …

Morning tea. (Clive pic.)
Mollie with Saddle Hill in background. (Helen pic and caption.)
Taieri Times, 10/5/2017 Mollie article (Ian scan and caption.)

… to join another 20 at Scurr’s woolshed for a shared lunch.

The rain held off for most of the morning, although there was cold southerly breeze, and the walk, completed in two hours, was enjoyed by all.  The walkers were greeted at the woolshed by the rest of the group eying trestle tables groaning with food.

Clive pic.

This disappeared amid a great deal of noisy chatter and fun.

Clive pic.

Card, cake …

Mollie cutting 90th Birthday Cake. (Ian pic and caption.)
ODT 12/5.
ODT 12/5

… and candles followed, and an ODT reporter appeared to record the event, including a picture of Molly outside in the pouring rain.  I hope there were no ill effects!

Many thanks to drivers who helped ferry people to and from Outram, to Elaine and Colin Scurr for the use of their woolshed, and to all members for the yummy food.  It was great to see such a good turn-out. – Judy K.


2. 29/4/2015. Hikers. Allanton-Outram Flood Bank. E. Leaders: Lester, Fred and Jim.

GPS of route
GPS of route

The feature of this tramp was the wind. Wind? A gale, A GALE.

The walk began from the Allanton Saleyards Road. A car shuttle was arranged – for those who didn’t want the road walk back. We set off.

We walked alongside the Allanton Road and turned into Ken Scorgies yards to stop for morning tea. Then we headed along and up onto the flood bank…

apres cuppa
On the trek after morning tea stop.

…to which we kept for practically the whole of the morning with only a few diversions to the flats alongside the Taieri River.

The day started off fine with only a moderate cold breeze, presently followed by a brief shower of rain, and a bit later another short shower. Some donned parkas early on, others waiting out the light showers. We made our way along, sometimes on the bank, sometimes off it. A wealth of mushrooms were a sore temptation for some.

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Bags and bags of mushrooms.
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Stretched out along the flood bank.

As we progressed the wind intensified to the extent that we couldn’t keep a steady footing. Along with the wind, a third, and this time, persisting shower, forcing everyone into parkas this time. This was complicated by a misjudged bit of the route which led us along the edge of a turnip paddock into a corner fence, with its electric wire, barring access back onto the flood bank. However with the help of poles lifting the wire and boots lowering the barbed wire fence we all in turn got through the narrow-neck eventually.

We were on the bank again. This time there were now walnuts galore. We ended up with enthusiasts lugging their plastic bags of mushrooms, walnuts, and even one lugging a bag of cow pats for their rhubarb patch. Somewhere about here we passed a small transformer station, and houses were appearing. We came off the bank onto a back street of Outram…

letters
A distinctive letter box in the back streets of Outram.

…and negotiated our way to a large shed which afforded us both lodging and shelter. Most welcome. We lunched. We hung around. We pondered doing the return road walk in the rain and wind. Eventually decided against. A car-load of drivers set off to be ferried to their cars and come back and rescue us. Car-load by departing car-load, the trip ended.

This reporter forgot to say that there were thirty-one of us. At least half that number resorted to Outram’s 8 on 87 cafe for a social coffee. Our number included aa earnest small group around a table end, complete with pen and paper finalising details for their impending overnight at Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track, on Monday, I think, overseen by Hut Wardens for the week, Judy and Elaine. We lingered. A warm dry finish to a fearsomely windy day, aggravated by a big rain shower as well. (No surprise that there were no photos taken during the bad parts of the day.)

Thanks to Lester, Fred and Jim for their planning and leadership. – Ian.


1. 18/5/2011. Hikers. Outram – Allanton Flood Bank. Leaders: Peter and Wendy.

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