Sandford Levvy Patrol

The OB was constructed in Sandford Levvy, an old horizontal mine adit, many feet underground, running south into Sandford Hill and 450 metres long. It was a trial lead mine first opened in 1830.

In the adit there are remains of paving stones, pieces of old wood and rusty brackets which may be the remains of bunks. There are faint marks on walls which could have been caused by candles and the air is fresh. There are other tunnels above and below the chamber used by the Patrol.

According to Auxilier Sam Gilling, "The Patrol only used to go there in the dark, never in daylight and never the same way twice. Inside there were sleeping quarters, hard tack rations, explosives and special equipment."

Local lad, Wally King lived at Eastwood as a boy and knew the mine area well. He saw the army there hard blasting and later went to find the entrance built over with new access from the top, via counterweighted camouflaged trap door. Inside he found slabs and curved corrugated iron rounded ceilings. Drainage channels were cut at the side of passage. Wire mesh shelves held grenades, cases of rifles, dynamite in 6lb sweet jars.

Local boys knew of another way in further up the hill and were lowered down by rope. The Army had cut a second entrance, 30 yards south west of the main entrance.

Wally watched the Patrol fire metal topped milk bottle phosphorous bombs from something like a mortar on a tripod right across Sandford Quarry.

Another local, Percy Baker, discovered the OB and found it camouflaged and full of ammunition. Thinking it was an enemy hideout he reported his discovery to Police. He was made to swear to keep it secret.