O’Reilly’s & The Stinson
The O’Reilly’s, were in the right place, at the right time, during a few pivotal moments in their lives and Australia’s history, including the loss of the Stinson. Setting up a dairy farm four years before the land around him was declared a National Park and then later a World Heritage-listed area ensured they had the Green Mountains virtually to themselves. In 1937 a Stinson aircraft with seven people on board disappeared en route from Brisbane to Sydney. A massive search for the plane was launched, but based on conflicting eye-witness accounts, the search area was 800kms south in the Hawkesbury region. Days later, the search was abandoned.
“The rescue of survivors of the Stinson plane crash 80 years ago was an iconic moment in Australian history, but the man behind the feat never felt he was a hero”
Damien Larkins, ABC News.
The Loss of the Stinson
Bernard O’Reilly believed he had seen the plane fly over his brother’s nearby farm. However, he was convinced it hadn’t crossed the border into NSW, so he searched on his own. Making his trail through dense rainforest and up the steep terrain of the McPherson Range, relying solely on his bushman skills, he found the wreck two days after he set off and 8.4kms from the O’Reilly property. The Stinson pilots and two passengers had died. Another survivor died going for help, leaving just two. Of the two remaining survivors, one had a broken leg. The other was severely burnt from the fire that engulfed the plane when it crashed.
The Rescue
Bernard boiled the men a billy tea and gave them food before heading back down the mountain at night. He waded through creeks and hacked his way back down the mountain through the dense rainforest. Thirteen hours later, he reached a farm where he was given a horse for the rest of the journey. Arriving back, he organised a rescue party and doctor. Then led them back to the crash site and helped bring the survivors down on stretchers. Talk about a feat of endurance!
A movie called ‘Riddle of the Stinson’ was made of the rescue starring Jack Thompson playing Bernard O’Reilly and the legend of the Stinson lives on with O’Reilly’s & The Stinson forever linked.
In the 1980s, the Australian Army removed much of the wreckage via helicopter. However, the skeletal remains of the aircraft are still there. This forms part of a hiking trail for very experienced and very fit bushwalkers.
Tree top walk
It was our last day at O’Reilly’s, so we headed off for the Tree Top Walk after breakfast. With Carole now on a walking stick instead of crutches. A series of nine suspension bridges soaring up to 30 metres off the forest floor. The walk is just across the road from reception and was the first of its kind in Australia. The boardwalk through the rainforest leads to a fig tree, the start of the bridges. It was drizzling, and the forest was shrouded in mist as we started. However, by the time we got back, the sun was shining.
We went for a massage and foot treatment at O’Reillys Lost World Day Spa in the afternoon- a fabulous treat.
Last night at O’Reilly’s
That evening, with Carole now off the crutches. We headed upstairs to the Rainforest Bar for our last happy hour and one and only sunset, followed by dinner and an early night. We were off down the mountain to Springbrook National Park and the Gold Coast the following day.