In 1863, Thomas Salisbury found the tablelands.
Gold was discovered there in 1865. Diggers braved harsh
conditions in their search but within a few years interest had waned. In
1886, 1909 and the 1930s gold fever spread again, but always with little
success as the area was never rich. In the clearing where Flora Hut now
stands, Edward s Store was set up in tents to provide services to the
diggers. Stock were driven up to the Tablelands and slaughtered at
Butchertown just west of Salisbury Lodge.
West of Butchertown, beyond the Leslie valley turnoff,
the Balloon Hut track descends through Cundy Creek and passes Bishops
Cave. Two Nelson Bishops, at different times late last century, camped
here and preached to the diggers. Nearby there was a forge of sorts.
In 1875, John Park Salisbury (Thomas s brother) drove a
mob of 100 sheep from the Graham valley and turned them out on the
Tablelands tussock. Later, cattle and another 400 sheep were driven out
and grazed from Mt Arthur to the Cobb.
