Floras Falls

Flora’s Falls below Collins Cap, a set of three falls, were described by Chas. G. Ramsay in 1894:

Situated in the heel of a horseshoe amphitheatre of uniform perpendicular rocks, confining as it were a wealth of wondrous beauty within its curvature, the water comes down, I should say, a height of about 200ft., judging by the mere atoms my companions appeared in comparison to it. The water glides down this dizzy height, not with a clatter-dash and splatter, but with a soft undulating motion, having a wondrously soothing effect over perturbed spirits … As with the upper so with the lower portion of the fall; the ledge projecting outward allowed ample and perfectly dry space to walk beneath it, behind the descending water. Standing there, looking through the crystal fluid, I beheld the most charming and beautiful colours appearing and disappearing as if by magic, as the sunbeams glinted, shimmered, and flushed upon the falling waters.

 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9315909

The full article is reproduced below

Floras falls

In: The Mercury Supplement Saturday 24 Nov 1894 FLORA'S FALLS. [By CHAS. G. RAMSAY.]

After the Bismarck meeting on Monday night, 19th last., escorted by Messrs. Otto and Relet, I proceeded to the tatter's residence (Blumberg) on Collins' Cap, reaching it and a warm welcome at midnight. Next morning, with a large escort, I went to see some wonderful falls under the peak of the cap, calling en route upon my friend, Mr. J. Fitzpatrick. Going along a ridge (affording fine views) for some distance we descended its very steep side the best way we could and landed on the platform on top of the 1 west of three falls. Standing upon its giddy and slippery height we looked down to the pool some 200ft. below, while on a level with us were the tops of huge giants of the forest, their wealth of foliage spread out like a soft leafy carpet before us, and completely hiding the stream below from view. Descending the almost perpendicular wall for some 50ft, we came to a fairly broad bench which the upper platform nearly overlapped, enabling us to comfortably walk along it behind the falling water about 150ft. from the stream below. Descending to the bottom I stood in awe and wonderment at the sight revealed to me. Here, a few feet above the pool formed by the falling water, I contemplated a scene of enchantment and beauty, and with a sense of calm peace reverently acknowledged the super perfection of God's architecture.

Situated in the heel of a horseshoe amphitheatre of uniform perpendicular rocks, confining as it were a wealth of wondrous beauty within its curvature, the water comes down, I should say, a height of about 200ft., judging by the mere atoms my companions appeared in comparison to it. The water glides down this dizzy height, not with a clatter-dash and splatter, but with a soft undulating motion, having a wondrously soothing effect over perturbed spirits. Gentle zephyrs now and again waft across its silvery surface, and carry away tiny clouds of feathery spray, reminding one of pure souls released from life's stream soaring upward to their Heavenly bourne. Standing beneath a canopy of bright foliage, formed by the spreading tops of gum, musk, and other trees, surrounded everywhere by the waving plumes of man ferns, with nowhere anything to mar the charm of this beauty spot..... for look how even the lower portions of the bare walls encompassing us on three aides and the dead timber lying about are clothed in rich mantles of chaste variegated moss of endless variety and purity ; the upper portions indented here and there, with delightful caves frowning away in their stately grandeur all but pure thoughts within their charmed enclosure ; while there just below my feet is a charming miniature lake reflecting everything, the fall- ing water with wonderful precision, and here and again there modestly peep small ferns of rare beauty, not forgetting the delicate maiden-hair.

Gliding gently o'er the platform the water spreads out fan-like in its first perpendicular descent of 50ft. ere reaching the lower ledge ; still spreading out, it now flows smoothly down a sloping shelve, then finally comes down in a perpendicular fall of about 100ft., rests refreshingly within a peaceful lake-like pool, and emerging thence goes merrily and blithely on to join the brimming river.

As with the upper so with the lower portion of the fall ; the ledge projecting out- ward allowed ample and perfectly dry space to walk beneath it, behind the descending water. Standing there, looking through the crystal fluid, I beheld the most charming and beautiful colours appearing and disappearing as if by magic, as the sunbeams glinted, shim- mered, and flushed upon the falling waters. At one moment a cloud, obscuring the orb of day, left me but a soft, subdued light, when the sun suddenly darting majestically from behind it, there burst upon me such a glorious vision of brightness as to fairly dazzle my sight, and carry my soul away beyond this earth to realise something of the glory that must be experienced on entrance into the realms above.

Taken altogether, the beauty and grandeur of this particular fall are something remark- ably surprising, which my poor pen but faintly portrays, and worth far and away greater exertion than it actually takes to visit it. I may add that rising up above the wonderful perpendicular walls of rock 200ft. high which environ us as already described, there are on both sides of the gorge down which the stream flows the steeply sloping aides of precipitous ridges, their tops clothed with beautiful wild flowers and lovely berries, and when facing the fall, the right o'er-shadowed (but not discernible) by the waratah, clematis, and grass-tree, crowned majestic Collins' Cap. This and the middle fall were, I am informed, discovered by Mr. John Fitzpatrick, of " Goldengrove, " but, being solicited to christen them, I decided upon naming the three after the Goddess of flowers (flowers everywhere abounding), Flora's Falls, but deferred the ceremony until reaching the uppermost one.

Leaving Flora's lower and grandest fall with sincere regret we climbed to and standing upon its topmost platform bid a lingering farewell to it. Proceeding up the stream, which throughout its course abounds in beautiful foliage, ferns and mosses, with now here now there revealing new and remarkable points of enchanting loveliness, we slip and laugh-leap from aide to side like boys once more-and climb up seemingly endless miniature falls from 1ft, to 3ft, in height, each possessing some charm of its own, with numerous delightful pools of still and placid water, each ever coming as a sweet and pleasant surprise upon us, we loiteringly pass onward, only too willing to lag and linger that we may admire the more. Presently the sweet music of falling water reaches the ear, and soon we emerge and stand before the second or middle waterfall, appearing to me like a sparkling jewel set in fairyland. Space will not permit anything but a brief description of this and the further loveliness revealed to me. This fall very much resembles the Silver Falls on Mount Wellington, but sur- passes it in beauty.

Something under 50ft. in height, its surroundings are some what similar to those of the lower. But the more stately grandeur of the larger fall, being absent in the comparative diminutiveness of the lesser one, a softer and peculiar sublimity of its own reigns around this. The water comes down this fall over ledges; the lower one projecting outward some 20ft. up affords plenty of scope to walk beneath it behind the falling water, which sparkles and glints with a wondrously beautiful shimmer, as it laughingly flows down the precipice upon a shelving rock, sloping into a very lovely pool.

Climbing the almost perpendicular wall quite 50ft., we very much admire the scene from there ; but time fleeting we press for- ward, regretting exceedingly my not having more leisure to note the remarkable wealth of beauty everywhere abounding, and reach the topmost and smallest, but very pretty, fall of the three. Here, in fulfilment of my promise, I formally perform the ceremony of naming the three Flora's Falls in a delicious draught of the self-same nectar flowing as pure now as when first it gushed forth at Adam's feet in the paradise of Eden.

Resolving to return, again and again I bid a temporary adieu to " Flora's Falls," deferring taking notes of the wonders of Collins' Cap and the beauties of " Blum berg " (hill of flowers), the residence of Mr. R. Relet, and of " Goldengrove " (named from the golden-topped groves of wattle surrounding it), the hospitable residence of that proved British warrior Mr. J. Fitzpatrick, for a future article, I hasten over 10 miles of an excellent road to the nearest railway station and return to Hobart.