Title
Look-out rock, Buffalo Range, Vic., Australia. An immense granite tower, over 40 feet, scaled by a wire ladder
Alternative Title
The "monolith," an enormous granite boulder, used as the "lookout," Buffalo Plateau, Victoria, Australia
Description
After reaching the Plateau, on the road to which some beautiful views were stereographed, as presented in numbers 8370 to 8376, the track traverses a small plain, crosses the bridge spanning the creek - (Stereograph 8384) - whose waters form the Buffalo Falls, and terminates at the main entrance to the Government Chalet. Within easy distance of the commodious Chalet stands an enormous granite boulder, on the top of which a flat space, reached by railed steps, and having an area of about six square feet, has been enclosed by a strong, breast-high iron railing. From this secure "Lookout" on the lip of the gorge, overlooking the stupendous chasm at an altitude of over 4,500 feet, the grandeur of the scenery baffles description. (See stereographs 8397, 8398, 8399.) Away in the dim distance, some eighty-five miles, Kosciusko's towering form can just be discerned faintly outlined. This is the highest peak in Australia, having an altitude of 7,328 feet. "In the middle distance stands Bogong, and to the right Mounts Fainter, Feathertop, and Hotham. Ridge upon ridge of mountain ranges stretch away into the dim and distant purple, the snow-capped peaks relieving the darker hues of the lower hills. Immediately below are the Eurobin Falls, and in the Buckland Valley the winding road is plainly discernible. On the left-hand side the ravine shows a serried cliff of barren rock, where, 1,600 feet below, giant gums appear as shrubs. On the right the rocks are more broken, their faces covered with mosses and lichens, and here and there healthy scrub and stunted trees cling like limpets to the interstices of the boulders; while tumbling with a roar into the abyss below, the water is tossed into spray, flashing in the sunlight, and displaying beautiful rainbow effects." Standing on the "Monolith," one revels in glorious vistas of most magnificent scenery. Afar off, vast snow-capped mountains rise from out mist-laden valleys, like islands in the sea; while near at hand, midst trees and shrubs powdered with feathery snow, are scattered many huge granite boulders - monuments in this "Garden of the Gods."
