Gas Brigades Southbank, Victoria, Australia
By quiet1_au on 27-Jul-13. Waypoint GA5880

Cache Details

Difficulty:
Terrain:
Type:	Virtual
Container:	Virtual
Coordinates:	S37° 49.333' E144° 57.541' (WGS 84)
	55H 320365E 5811947N (UTM)
Elevation:	2 m
Local Government Area:	Melbourne

Map

Description

A challenge virtual (or virtual challenge?) - capture a photograph of the fireballs from the night-time "Gas Brigades" display

Between the Yarra River and a certain Melbourne gambling establishment are the Gas Brigades - eight 10 metre towers of bluestone over a metal frame which produce a display of fireballs on the hour between about dusk and midnight/1am for a few minutes. The rippled surface of the stone once featured water running down, but these were decomissioned (after compulsory water restrictions). The pyrotechnic system is fired by natural-gas.

The published coordinates are for one of the central towers, but they run from Spencer to Queensbridge Street along the Yarra Promenade. Your challenge for this virtual cache is to capture an original photograph of the fireball display in action - taken from July 2013 onwards. You may choose to focus on a particular tower, or opt for multiple towers as you wish, and you may take the photograph from either side of the river - or anywhere else in this part of the city where you can get a clear view of the display for that matter - be as creative as you like! I've included my own (rather rushed) photograph as an example. There's no smiley without fire.

Please plan your visit according to Crown's information (I presume they keep their website updated - see link below) in case the display is not operating.

https://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/general/gas-brigades

Fireball

More information can be found here regarding the Gas Brigades and the display times. Be aware that the display will not run on days of Total Fire Ban or if weather/systems pose a safety risk.

Some technical information about the fire and safety systems can be found here and here too if you are interested.

FTF honours go to themd! :-)

Hints

Gvzr lbhe ivfvg jryy - avtug gvzr, ba gur ubhe, pnzren ng gur ernql - purpx gur Pebja jrofvgr

ROT 13:	ABCDEFGHIJKLM
	NOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Decode

Logs

29-Mar-24

beetles2

Went to GZ and waited but nothing happening here anymore.
Seems the gas brigades haven't lit up the Melbourne skies for over a year now.
Pity, they were always a spectacular sight.

06-Mar-19

jusojara

Headed down tonight to catch the show

10-Jan-19

The Hancock Clan

We've walked past these many times before but never have we seen the fireballs. Tonight, unexpectedly, we were walking back to our hotel and just across from the bridge that we were crossing were these big balls of fire! Quick, grab the camera I shouted, that's a GCA that we need! Perfect! We got the money shot! TFTC!
Cheers,
The Hancock Clan

18-Aug-18

Ikkibrady

Been trying to be at the right spot at right time for a while now. Finally that time had come. Though the one I sat u far and wasitwd for didn't seem to be going and I had to rush to another.

Rated: for Overall Experience

08-Dec-16

caughtatwork

By the light of the flames do I claim this geocache in the name of all things firey.
A great night to be out collecting some water Pokemon and at the same time catching the Gas Brigade in full glory. More than bright enough to not need a flash and very quick shutter speed from quite a long way away, down towards the Polly Woodside. My goodness some birds must be toasted Smile

Thanks for the geocache here which I am claiming as the 2013 hidden date scavenge for the Summer Scavenge Series.

Rated: for Overall Experience

14-Jul-16

Beardman75

We were at a pre-dinner drinks put on by our hosts at the Crown with views over the river and it began and ended with a fiery inferno right outside the window. It's an impressive spectacle

11-Jun-16

ChrisWhite62

Was walking through here last night and remembered that there was a locationless about the fire plumes. Thankfully if was nearly nine o'clock so not long to wait as it was raining.

20-Mar-16

WazzaAndWenches

Every year I spend a few days camped very close to the Gas Brigades whilst I attend our annual industry product show and conference. Every year I plan on taking a photo for this cache. Every year something happens to thwart my plan. Brick Wall

Well, not this year. I set the clock to beep at me a few minutes before the hour then wandered over the end of the bridge for some great photos.

Thanks Quiet1_Au. Another great virtual find.

13-Feb-16

Poiter.h

Just happened to be in the area when I remembered about this Virtual.
I checked the time and realised I had better get snapping as this was the second last show for the night and Mizzjane wanted to head back to the motel.
Pics aren't to great but enough info to say I was there. Smile

TFTVC QUIET1_AU

Rated: for Overall Experience

20-Sep-15

cantanga

at just after 12 I left the barbershop afterglow (party) and thought I would head back to my room. walking back from hamer hall out of the corner of my eye I catch a glowing. that's right the fireballs and there is a smiley to get. so I walked around Melbourne trying and failing to find other gca caches but I made it back on time to get a couple dozen photos of the fireballs

06-Oct-14

2y'stassies

This virtual cache reminded us of some photos taken of the gas flames in September 2000 - yes, predigital days. Colour film was used and the negatives have been scanned to get them into digital format. Although not eligible to be used to log this cache, one photo has been added to the Gallery as it shows many flames towards the end of a display. We will return at some time to get a current photo and then we will log a find. Thanks for an interesting cache quiet1_au.

LouiseAnn

20-Sep-14

EuDes

I decided to mosie on down here tonight while waiting for the train home from the footy. Sure enough, right on the hour of 21:00 there they were. After a couple of failed attempts, I finally nabbed a couple of 'belchers', including one from the Sandridge Bridge on the way back to the station. Very Happy

Thanks quiet1_au.

Rated: for Overall Experience

04-Aug-14

OldSaint

Hi quiet1_au
The photo is not that good, but found that while walking near the fire balls, the heat could be felt with astonishing ease.
TFTC and cheers
OldSaint.

Rated: for Overall Experience

LouiseAnn

30-Jan-14

calumphing_four

Could've picked a number of dates to log this cache, as I've seen the fireballs quite a few times now as I am currently residing close by for the next few months.
Suprised the fireballs didn't damage the giant TV screen that was set up for the Australian Open, as the big balls were quite warm.
Tonight I stood on the bridge to take some photos, while the bank was taken up with celebrations for the Chinese New Year.
Quite a few at the celebrations were surprised when the flares went off, as I could hear the gasps of anxiety when the first flare sounded - they are quite loud.
TFTV quiet1_au

Cheers Cool

Rated: for Overall Experience

12-Dec-13

themd

***FTF***

Not sure why this has been so long unfound.

Have been lucky enough to see this display on numerous occassions.

Tonight after school function for the geokids I positioned myself ready for the action.

MMM ok the tower I stood under did not even fire Razz