Great news, announced today (March 9th)
that funding ($750,000) from Federal funds has been approved with matching
funds to come from East Gippsland Shire, to provide visitors and locals alike with a
new lookout. This is well overdue and will be a great asset to Lakes Entrance. It
is exactly the sort of project which will enhance and improve general tourism
in the area from which we can all benefit.
It will put us more firmly on the map, (yes people still use real maps),
provided of course that the projected lookout is located in the right place!
View to Metung from Jemmys Point. Copyright John Munns
So
where is Jemmys Point.? Alas NOT where a short video (posted
on Facebook today by our Federal Member Hon Darren Chester MP accompanied by our
Mayor Ms Natalie O’Connell Mitchell.) was filmed.That was at the lookout adjacent to
the highway where significant works have been done improving parking, (another
good use of funds) but that is not, never has been Jemmys Pt.
The Entrance from Jemmys Point. Copyright John Munns
Please, if we are going to spend all this
money on a lookout, let’s build it at Jemmys Point, the real one from where you could to see towards Red
Bluff and Marlo to the East, out to sea and, weather dependent, the gas/oil
rigs, to the West over the Gippsland Lakes and the 90 Mile Beach. Now
before we go and make complete fools of ourselves, let me provide some
information and a few pieces of photographic evidence regarding the actual
location of Jemmys Point at the end of Look Out Road of course.
Sloping Land south of Light Tower. Copyright John Munns
Courtesy State of Victoria (Agriculture)
the following is sited: Ownership is Crown
Land. VRO reference: GL7 (8522)
Geology: The
Jemmys Point Formation is the youngest formation of the Seaspray Group. This
formation outcrops in cliffs around the eastern shoreline of the Gippsland
Lakes with a major exposure along The Narrows and North Arm between Kalimna and
Lakes Entrance. At Jemmys Point, 12 to 14 metres of strata is exposed in the
cliffs are predominantly of calcareous silty sandstone with minor sandy
calcarnite and cemented concretionary layers. Two shell beds are prominent with
an abundant mollusc fauna consisting of whole shell and large shell fragments
embedded in a sandy calcareous matrix.
Geomorphology: Jemmys Point is a steep bluff, including cliffed
sections, that is part of the marginal bluff of the Gippsland Lakes. The base
of the bluff is undercut by wave action and beach formation is inhibited by the
strong ebb-tidal current that is concentrated along Reeve Channel and The
Narrows.
Significance: Regional.
Good exposures of Jemmys Point Formation are seen here. The Point also provides
one of the best vantage points to view Lakes Entrance and the sequence of
barriers and lagoons in the eastern section of the Gippsland Lakes.
Management: Roadworks here generally
provide new exposures of the sediments, although erosion protection works are
required to stabilize slumped sections above the Princes Highway.
References: Wilkins (1963): Douglas & Ferguson (1976): Copyright State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria) http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au
OK, that is all the technological stuff
done and dusted, interesting, but can be a bit dry unless you are into that
science genre. Now for some images from way back. These can all be found at - https://www.victorianplaces.com.au
and are reproduced here with that
acknowledgement.
Jemmy's
Point Lookout, Lakes Entrance Contributor: John Young Collection
The Entrance
from Jemmy's Lookout, Lakes Entrance Publisher: Valentine Series
Contributor: John Young Collection
View from
Jemmy's Point, Lakes Entrance Publisher: The Lakes Studio
Publication Contributor: John Young
Collection
The
Entrance, Lakes Entrance, 1963 Publisher: Rose Series
Contributor: John Young Collection
These show it has always been
held Jemmys Point is the parcel of land under the existing light tower (indicating
to seafarers The Entrance) and is also adjacent to the old tree that was, and
for that matter still may be, used by local seafarers to navigate into The Entrance. This is Jemmys Point.
An ideal site for a viewing tower, platform,
structure or what have you. It will provide a better view, being higher, a
wider view because it is actually at the point of the escarpment, and already
has adjoining open space, grass land, a toilet block (which would need a bit of
an upgrade) and good access. It also houses a memorial stone, (placed there by
Rotary Club of Lakes Entrance), as a memorial to those lost at sea in the
vicinity. Imagine being able to see the town to the east and 90 Mile Beach to the west from one viewing platform at Jemmys Point.
To the East Copyright John Munns
To the West Copyright John Munns
It is all there at Jemmys Point, all we need is the platform of
suitable design. The boomerang concept would lend itself to a wider viewing
angle. Further the sloping land in front of the
existing tower could make an ideal site to allow for fully accessible access via ramps not steps, to
the actual viewing point which could be built south of the tower to further
increase the view and be above the vegetation which currently creates partial
obstruction. The platform could include simple indications of what is, and how
far, to the east through the compass spectrum to the west. Perhaps even a Bbq
facility in the open space.
Perhaps an explanation of the oil and gas
exploration in the area, given that oil was discovered along the Old Bunga Road,
and this may attract further commercial funding sources. The opportunities are
all there at Jemmys Point. It would be good to maximise our opportunities at this site.
View from Jemmys Point in front of light tower. Copyright John Munns
So there we are, the opportunities are at
the real Jemmys Point, alternatively the
place at the top of Kalimna Hill is merely a lookout close by and conveniently
close to the road, often referred to but incorrectly by the same name. Please, let’s do it right, for the benefit
of the town.
Wide Angle View from Jemmys Point. Copyright John Munns
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