Background and Location of the Zig Zag Track.
(Note P Kneen Nov 2024 - called "Zig Zag" because there a a few switchbacks, hairpin bends along the route so as to maintain a steady gradient. Like the Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow).
It was 11 kilometres from Rankins’ to Georges’ at Bendethera along the Deua River Track. If the Georges wanted to go west from Bendethera to the Shoalhaven, instead of going to Blanchard’s they would use the Zig Zag Track to climb up westwards from Bendethera.
It was well known that the Clarke gang was often harboured at Bendethera. There was a proposal by an inmate in Darlinghurst gaol, Henry Antill, who knew the Clarkes well that if he was released along with two other inmates, he would set up an ambush on the track going up the limestone mountain and make short work of the bushrangers. This proposal, made to the Colonial Secretary, Henry Parkes, in 1866, was not accepted, but it provides us with evidence that the track existed at that time.
The Zig Zag track goes up from Con Creek through limestone outcrops, above Bendethera Caves, to the top of the Minuma Range and onto Snowball and the Braidwood/Cooma Road.
