Mittagong Maltings

Well, it has been a while since my last post. Holidays, work and all that had gotten rather in the way, however I have a few big plans for this year with Urbex and to start we have a big one from the end of last year. The Mittagong Maltings.

Located in Mittagong, the Tooth and Co brewery closed in 1981and the two large factory buildings are a delight to explore. The main, seen above, has a number of floors, several of which are difficult to reach. One of which we didn't even attempt as it required a gang plank walk across the very top. Before exploring the number of rooms and levels we went the the second building.

Here I was delighted to find cavernous rooms of polls and arches, looking like an industrial roman playground.

Crawling through holes and up rusted ladders we found around five levels, the highest of which both Frostalicus and Tabasco opted not to climb too. I couldn't blame them. The wooden stairwell went straight above a drop of four floors and looked precarious at best. I wish that my photo's had come through properly. As such I have to use others whose did come out well. (Used with permission)

What looked like it should have been a tennis court rested on top, as Frostalicus gave me a lift to the top, we decided not to take Tabasco's advice on simply jumping down to one of the abandoned mattresses below and made our way by a nearby ladder.

We than moved back to the first building, with a quick stop to a badly fire damaged house that was to the side between them. Due to the roof looking, very less than stable we didn't go fully inside but still managed to get a few good pictures. As one of the rooms wall-paint was still impeccable, if with some extra decorations.

The final building had a fourth level that you had to walk up a plank to get to, Frostalicus and I had an explore there whilst Tabasco waited down a level.

This place was an amazing one to visit, and even though we spent most of the day there all of us believe a second trip is in order. Whilst the higher levels are often hard to get to and downright dangerous. At no point would I recommend anyone to attempt to reach them. The bottom levels and the general area appear to be very well trodden. We ran into numerous groups, including many teenagers and someone who had simply driven in. Always be safe and cautious, but this is one that's worth having a walk around.

It was not till I got my photo's that I realized every-time Frostalicus had borrowed my camera he had been taking a photo of my arse. I have decided not to upload those.

- Phoenix

Malabar Battery

When I was a kid I use to ride past Malabar Battery but I hadn't gone inside before.
Myself, Mouse, Frostalicus and Tabasco (They had far to much fun choosing names as we walked) went through the battery today.

Considering the paths are often not clear we decided to check it out whilst it was still light. The views were spectacular across the beaches as we walked along the cliff face.

Finally we headed into the train ditch, whilst now overgrown with weeds you can still see the metal rails running along the ground. Heading towards the main building we found most of the doors barred off with the exception of the stair case.

Inside most of the rooms were covered in graffiti and the windows bared, Tabasco forgot his flash so we were limited for some of the photos but we managed to capture some of the more interesting rooms and graffiti.

Heading back down into the trench we followed down to a second room which had a split in the train. One side had light peeping in from a staircase leading up and was only a few meters long. The other was around 50 with no light. Which of course was the one Mouse and myself decided to go down first.

Leading to my favorite piece of graffiti.

We headed back outside, leaving the main building and heading towards the cliffs as the light started to warm and turn orange we saw the last two military buildings. Far less exciting than what we already seen we mostly enjoyed the view.

Whilst this site is technically on a active firearms range it is a good kilometer from the actual firing range and despite its supposedly being off limits we ran into several hikers including a family with very young children. This site is a great one to check out for beginners and if your just interested in some spectacular views.

- Phoenix

Safety comments: The riffle range is only open on Saturdays so for extra security best not to visit the site on a Saturday and Frostalicus remember long pants as there are snakes in the long grass. Safety first always.

St Peters Graffiti Pt 2

As I said, May Lane St Peters is always changing. Here is some of the new Graffiti.

Hope you're not afraid of Clowns.

St Peters Graffiti Pt 1

May Lane near my house features some of the best street art in Sydney and it is continuously changing.

Enjoy some of the best works at the moment.

More will come, hopefully with a better camera.

First post - OLD RTA

Old RTA in Rosebery.

This place had been left for around fifteen years whilst the new owners, Hillsong church, attempted to build a mega-church there. However they didn't get approval (when you hear the lengths they went to including donations to politicians and faking petitions it's really satisfying to know they didn't get their approval) and it now looks like it's going to be some more apartment buildings. Construction appears to have started some time in the last four months. Pics follow.

There were two main buildings, the office block and the crash-test labs. The view from the top of the office block stretched from the docks to the airport, across to Tempe, into the CBD, past the Chatswood transmission tower, and then around to Bondi Junction and UNSW. 

Quite spectacular.