This field trip is a gentle sojourn for participants who arrive early and need a relaxing day to remove the cobwebs from a long plane trip, albeit traveling by bus for two hours to and from Joadja, or for those who are interested in the history, social life and geology of one of the most successful of Australia’s 19^th Century kerosene shale (torbanite/boghead coal) industries. In these times, this kerosene shale industry was to Australia what the cannel coal industry was to North America.

After leaving the hotel in Coogee we travel through the southern and western suburbs of Sydney and then take the Hume Highway to Mittagong, a small country town in the Southern Highlands. The Southern Highlands is a region in New South Wales that was inhabited by the early British settlers and a region where many of the settlers introduced the plants and environs that were so well known to them back in Mother England.

Joadja is about half an hour drive west of Mittagong and is located on the floor of a valley that has been eroded into the Permian Sydney Basin sequence. The valley is very scenic and abounds with native fauna although the animals may be a little shy given that Sunday is a tourist day in the Valley.

Once in the Valley a local historian will entertain participants throughout the morning with the life and times of the social and historical aspects of Joadja as we are taken on a grand tour of the old workings. Although most of the buildings have long since fallen down or been removed there are several buildings that still show the architecture and flavour of the village and kerosene shale workings. Places of interest include the cemetery, the School of Arts, the Director’s Cottage (still being lived in), the school, water reservoirs and the retorts.

After lunch those participants still with energy, and both the desire and physical capacity, will have the opportunity to climb up the valley sides (a steep long haul) to the mining shelf where the remains of adits and the geology of the deposit will be outlined. Just remember the miners did this walk twice a day, up in the early hours of the morning and back in time for bed in the evening. As an extra, samples of the famous Joadja kerosene shale will be available for those who want to take home a memento.

Depending on interest and time, it will be possible to visit the Joadja winery where participants can sample and purchase fine Southern highlands wine.

Hat, sunscreen, suitable clothing (in late September the sun may have quite a bite and temperatures in the mid to high 20s (Celsius) are not uncommon, and suitable walking shoes. The climb up to the mining shelf is best described as hard to difficult and hence shoes/boots should provide ankle support and have a good sole to help negotiate the steep and sometimes stone covered terrain.