RUMBLING MOUNTAIN (Mt George)

 Below is an extract from an article from the Uralla Times written in 1907 after a number of rumblings and explosions happened emanating from the mountain.

Rumbling mountain still goes off today, and the story regarding significant rainfall occurring almost a fortnight after to the day can be validated by local residents; including local Bundarra General Store owner David Lowell, who has been on the mountain when the rumbling and shaking happened.

2007 sees the 100th anniversary of the newspaper article below.

Are our Volcanoes Extinct ?

It is popularly supposed by scientist that, whereas in the dim, hoary past, Australia was the centre of a vast volcanic activity, all have long since become perfectly extinct. But whether this opinion is correct it is indeed difficult to prove. At all events, the best regulated theories are apt at times to be set astray, especially those theories appertaining to natural phenomena; so that, after all , we must not be too cock-sure as to the utter absence of volcanoes. On the contrary there is a stretch of wild precipitous country on the western edge of the high Guyra Tableland which ever and anon gives indisputable evidence that something is wrong with the works below -- something which tends to the theory that the ancient Guyra - Bundarra Volcanic System formerly one of the most active in Australia , is not entirely dead. The neighbouring country from whence the subterranean explosions periodically proceed is nown as the Basin-- a wild gorge through which flow from the high lands beyond large Creeks George’s and Laura.  In places these creeks are separated only by a narrow wall of rock , so that one can stand on the “razorback” and throw stones into either stream. Limestone caves and dark crevices in the rocks abound in the locality , some of them evidently having been utilised for years as a marsupial cemetery , judging by the big accumulation of bones. The old local superstition to the effect that a certain malevolant individual, commonly called Nicholas, occasionaly bobbed up out of one of these abysmal depths is now not generally believed.

With regards to activities at the Basin, it has been reported that crockery has been broken on the shelves of houses a few miles distant owing to the concussion. Perhaps the most mystifying feature connected with the matter is that the explosions cannot be traced to any particular small area of ground: but that they proceed from a hill at the head of the Basin seems assured. Again kangaroo hunters assert that they have stood in the Basin and heard the explosions only apparently a little way towards Guyra (easterly), and on going across the hill above mentioned the noises proceeded as from the direction of Bundarra (westerly). To the north of this hill the noises came from the south and vice versa. This is indisputable evidence that the hill (known as Warning mountain ) is the centre of disturbance , yet there is no sign of a crater, neither are any sulphurous exhalations given off , nor are there any suspicions of fire. It does nothing but shake and boom. The periods of activity are irregular. Sometimes the hill is quiet for months : at other times the show will work several times during a day for several days. Invariable its period of activity is closely identified with the approach of wet weather , and is regarded as a reliable barometer. The locality is distant 16 miles easterly from Bundarra, and about 22 westerly from Guyra, the Bundarra route being the best. The so- called mysterious mountain used to be in the territory of the now extinct Bundarra tribe of Aboriginals, who furnished the appended legend:-- “ In the prehistoric days there lived a race of giants, and all animals were likewise of colossal proportions . One day a member of the ancient aboriginal giants came in contact with a very large kangaroo, and during the ensuing combat both man and beast fell into a bottomless chasm ; and the explosions that from time to time issued from the bowels of the earth were believed to be the man and beast bumping from rock to rock in their continuous descent. The blacks always regarded the spot in great fear , and would rarely go near it.

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