PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON
Mr Tipper was visiting the former gold rush brewery site for the first time, helping celebrate the consecutive weekend birthdays of his parents.
Scenic ruins and spring blooms were something of a photographic departure for the keen alpinist, who spends his free time climbing.
"I'm usually snapping mountains, panoramas and routes with my cellphone, but this is nice for a change," he said.
Site volunteers said 27 people had visited by mid-afternoon on Saturday.
The attraction is open 10am-4pm, Friday to Sunday, until October 13.
