Black Flat Goldfields, Warrandyte State Park

These pictures were taken on Friday July 30, 2010, in the Black Flat historical goldmining precinct, Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of Central Melbourne.

Gold was found at Black Flat in 1878, and the Caledonia Mine operated from 1904 until 1912.

My exploration was about 3 km, following Black Flat Track, which passed the alluvial diggings of the 1880s.

See all of the Photos of my exploration, which include images of some of the old excavations - most of the shafts have been capped with steel grates for safety reasons.

Weatherhead Hill Walking Track, Bunyip Stste Park

View from Track to Westernport Bay

The Big Rock

Grass Trees

TheTrack near the mill site

These pictures were taken on Wednesday afternoon, July 28, 2010, in the Weatherhead Forest Section of the Bunyip State Park, 70 km east of Melbourne.

This Forest is adjacent to the southern boundary of the Park, next to large farming properties, and is the southernmost ridge.

It is reached from the Tynong North to Gembrook Rd, then up Weatherhead Rd, arriving at the start of the unsigned Weatherhead Hill Walking Track.

I followed this Track through tall forest, reaching the site of the former Weatherhead mill in a gully.

This was my turnaround point, as the track then became impassable, due to fallen trees and dense invading vegetation.

Nothing is left of the mill, apart from an old sawdust heap, almost impossible to detect.

The mill site is located next to an old creek (now dry).

This forest was heavily logged from the 1880s. The name Weatherhead derives from that of a woodcutting family (Horatio Weatherhead and his sons), who moved into the area in 1908. The trees were sawn at the mill, and taken by tramway to the railway siding at Tynong, about 10 km to the south.

Horatio had a license to mill 2,000 acres of forest and he and his sons operated various Mills from 1909 onwards.

It is known that the mill was still operating as late as 1929.

The Forest was devasted by serious bushfires on many occasions, the worst being in 1939, 1961, and 1983. After the 1939, the Victorian Government required all remaining mills to be moved outside of the forest catchment areas.

Logging in the Weatherhead Forest area ceased in 1990, and it was amalgamated into the newly proclaimed Bunyip State Park in 1992.

See all of the Photos of my 4 km hike!

Coastal hike to Honeysuckle Point, Shoreham

These pictures were taken on Tuesday afternoon July 27, 2010, on a beach hike on the Shoreham Coast, Westernport Bay, 70 km SE of Melbourne.

My hike started at the foreshore carpark, over Stony Creek on to Honeysuckle Point, then return, and an extension to the west head.

There was interesting surf running, with several body-surfers enjoying the action, some doing the new stand-up "paddle surfing"!

See all of the Photos of my visit, which includes an historical image dated to 1940, showing the jetty, which was dismantled in the early 1950s. This jetty was used by boats which picked up produce from the nearby farms, and for supplying them with fresh supplies. It was also used by fishing boats, which would unload their catches on to waiting trucks, destined for the railway at Balnarring, or to Melbourne.

The hike distance was about 4 km.

Kangaroos at Mt Lofty, Warrandyte State Park

These pictures were taken on July 26, 2010, in the Mt Lofty section of the Warrandyte State Park, 30 km east of central Melbourne.

My hike started at the Mt Lofty Reserve car park, then along the Lookout track, up through open grassland to the Kangaroo Track, then scrub-bashed down the hill to the Yarra. Then along the River Track, and back to home base.

Nice views of the Yarra and Yarra Ranges, with kangas resting and jumping nearby!

Total distance was about 3 km.

See all of the Photos

Weatherhead Range ascent, Bunyip State Park

On Sunday afternoon July 25, 2010, I went out to the Bunyip State Park, 70 km east of Melbourne.

The winter day was cold, but sunny, and I climbed up to the Weatherhead Range Plateau.

The Park is very large,16,600 hectares. The area was used for logging from 1898 until 1990, and was turned into a state park two years later. The park is named after the Bunyip, an Aboriginal mythical creature.

The terrain in the park is mostly dense forest and swampy heathland, with Prickly Tea-Tree, Mountain Ash and Mealy Stringybark present.

In 2009, 2400 hectares, or about 15% of the park, was burnt in the Black Saturday bushfires.

The Weatherhead Range is in the southern section of the Park, and runs east-west, ending at Mt Towt in the east.

Public access to the Range is by foot, horse, or bicycle and it may be reached from the north or south.

I chose the northern approach, along gated Guide Track, which starts at the junction of Camp Rd, not far from the Gembrook-Tonimbuk Rd.

About 200 m from the gate is the entrance to the Buttongrass Reserve; a nice 3 km circuit track starts there, which I had completed previously.

I climbed Guide Track to its end at the junction with Lupton's Track, high up on the Plateau, where the Blackboy Range meets the Weatherhead Forest.

That was my turnabout point, at an elevation of 320m, one of the highest points in the Range!
I had ascended some 200m from my starting point.

The views from the Track were amazing, with magnificent panoramas across the Park and Diamond Creek valley to the north, towards the rugged Black State Range and prominent Mt Beenak.

This Track is very steep and sustained, with deep ruts caused by water run-off. I would not attempt this route immediately after heavy rain!

This area is somewhat remote and reasonable fitness is required.

Lupton's Track starts at the junction with the Tynong North to Gembrook Rd, and is an alternative route.

These tracks are kept open for fire management purposes, and care is needed to avoid horseriders and young hoons illegally using trailbikes.

The views, in my opinion, are the best in this section of the Park!

The distance trtavelled was about 5 km.

If you are lucky, you might even come across a Bunyip, which live in the forest!

Warning: Camp Rd has become badly potholed and special care is needed in 2WD vehicles.

See all of the Photos of this beautiful place!

Fourth Hill circuit hike, Warrandyte SP

Victory Mine entrance

Summit of Fourth Hill

"Coral"' tree fungi

"Gold" tree fungi

These pictures were taken on Saturday afternoon July 24, 2010, in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of central Melbourne, on a 4 km circuit hike in the Whipstick Gully historical goldmining precinct.

From the car park at the restored poppet head at the end of Whipstick Gully Rd, I ascended the Bruce Bence Track, then on to Waterman Track, to the summit of Fourth Hill, then down Whipstick Gully Track to the car park.

Some beautiful winter fungi had appeared, unlike any I had ever seen before!

Sadly, no nuggets!

The summit of Fourth Hill was the site of the Warrandyte Water Trust Dam, from 1961 to 1972, and the Fire Tower. There is little evidence remaining of the Dam or Tower.

In the peak of the mining era, 1859 to 1923, the summit was cleared of trees, and was ravaged by bushfires on many occasions.

The poppet head at the car park is a rebuilt structure, based on the original head which stood near the entrance to the Victory Mine a short distance away. Public access to the mine is not permitted. There were rich returns from this mine in 1883, until its closure in 1923.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Winter circuit hike in the Warrandyte SP

These images were taken on Wednesday July 21, 2010, on a 4 km hike in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of central Melbourne.

My circuit started at the Jumping Creek picnic ground, then along the Blue Tongue Bend Track, along the Nature Walk, then on to Freeland Track, and back to home base.

There were excellent views of the Yarra from the cliff top, and a spectacular array of colored fungi next to the Nature Walk.

See all of the Pictures of my visit!

Winter circuit hike in the Sherbrooke Forest

I visited the Sherbrooke Forest, 40 km east of central Melhourne, on Tuesday afternoon July 20, 2010.

My circuit hike started at the small car park at the junction of the Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd and Sherbrooke Rd, and I climbed up Moore Firebreak Track, reaching Edgebrook Track.

I continued to Hackett's Track, then along Monument Track, and back to the care, a distance of about 4 km.

Monument Track crosses the Sherbrooke Creek.

This hike was in magnificent tall forest and past fern gullies, with some colorful fungi along the way!

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Possum Track in winter, Olinda State Forest

I went over to the Olinda State Forest, 40 km east of Melbourne central, on Monday afternoon July 19, 2010, a cold and bleak mid-winter's day.

I was amazed at the enormous diversity and variety of colored Fungi!

Leaving the car at the junction of Olinda Creek Rd and George's Track, I proceeded along this track, then on to unsigned Possum Track, decending into a gully.

The track crosses a dry tributory of the Lyrebird Creek at the bottom of this gully.

I then continued along Possum Track, reaching its end at Hermon's Track, my turnaround point.

Tht total distance was about 3 km, through beautiful fern gullies and tall timber.

The Olinda Forest was a logging region, from the early settlement in the 1850. It was originally known as the Olinda State Forest, prior to its amalgamation into the Dandenong Ranges National Park in 1997. Timber cutting ceased in 1968, when the Forest was declared a "recreational zone".

Serious bushfires ravaged the Forest in 1962 and 1968 - the charred stumps and logs remain.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Winter hike to Tank Hill Summit, Warrandyute State Park.

On Sunday afternoon July 18, 2010, a cold and bleak mid-winter day, I went over to the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of central Melhourne.

From the Lookout Point over the Yarra at the entrance to Pound Bend Reserve, I proceeded along gated Tank Track, ascending Tank Hill to the summit.

The concrete tank is near the summit, for fire management support, with a radio water level signalling system.

There are good views from the Summit to the south across the Yarra to Warrandyte.

I then descended to the end of Tank Track, crossing Pound Bend Rd, near the Parks Victoria depot.

From there, I followed the walking track past the YHA Memorial, and then in to Kangaroo Paddock.

Many kangas were grazing in their paddock, which is the site of a former orchard.

I then proceeded along the Pound Bend river track, reaching the Pound Bend Reserve, and up the hill back to the car.

Many winter fungi had appeared, of diverse colors, shapes, and sizes!

This was about 4 km total.

See all of the Photos!

The old gold diggings at Fiddler's Gully, Warrandyte State Park

On Friday afternoon July 16, 2010, I went over to the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of Melbourne central.

I explored the historical gold mining precinct of Fiddler's Gully.

I started at the gste at the junction of Webb St and Fiddler's Gully Track, then down the track, scrub bashed in the bushland, then along Dead End Track. My return was along Webb St, a total distance of about 2 km.

No gold, but plenty of exposed quartz rocks and beautiful colored winter fungi!

Fiddler's Gully extends from the ridge line down to the Anderson Creek. At one time there was a creek, known as Fiddler's Creek, but this no longer flows.

See all of the Photos of my visit.

WInter hike in the Silvan Forest

Several interesting walking trails may be enjoyed in the Silvan Forest, part of the Melbourne Water Reserve, adjacent to the Silvan Reservoir Park, 45 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

They start opposite the main entrance to the Park, in Stonyford Rd, and include the Olinda Creek, Messmate, Greygum, and Circuit Tracks.

The reservoir was opened in 1932, supplying water to Melbourne. A 7 km aerial cableway transported materials to the construction site from a siding at Mt Evelyn railway station.

Rusting remains of this cableway and other pieces of old machinery and outbuildings may be seen on the site of the former "Borrow Pit", next to the cleared space adjacent to the large water tanks, opposite the main gates.

My visit was on Thursday afternoon July 15, 2010, cold and bleak. My route passed through forest and fern gullies, on a circuit hike of about 4 km. Many colorful winter fungi had appeared! Recent fuel reduction activity has left the forest somewhat bare, but there has been strong regrowth of ferns emerging from the black ashes.

Comprehensive information about the construction and development of the Reservoir may be found at

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=102609

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Manna Gum Track in winter, Olinda Forest

The Manna Gum Track is deep in the Olinda Forest, 50 km east of central Melbourne.

It links Silvan Rd with Boundary Rd, and is adjacent to the Hamer Arboretum.

I explored this scenic track on Tuesday afternoon July 13, 2010, starting at the junction of Silvan Rd and Mathias Track.

The track descends steeply into the Lyrebird Creek Gully.

The name derives from the magnificent stands of Manna Gums through which the track passes.
This is a tough track in terms of gradient, with a change in altitude of about 200m, about 4 km return.

Click Photos  to see all of the pictures of my visit, which show the track, colored winter fungi, and the forest, with some additional pictures taken from the Woolrich Lookout on Chalet Rd, with good panoramas across the Yarra Valley to the Ranges and beyond.

Kurth Kiln Historical Reserve

On Monday afternoon July 12, 2010 I visited the Kurth Kiln Park, 10 km north of the town of Gembrook.

The following information is acknowledged to the Kurth Kiln Friends Website:

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fofkk/The%20Kurth%20Kiln%20Friends.htm:

The Park is named after Ernest E. Kurth, a Doctor of Chemistry at the time at the University of Hobart, who in 1940 was investigating alternate sources of motor fuel (such as shale and wood) for the eventuality that Australia could become cut off from the supply of overseas petrol.

Kurth soon realised that mineral shale oil, while theoretically possible, would of needs be a huge project, a complete new industry, needing massive funding, whereas charcoal production was already well established and the principle of wood-gas generation for motor vehicles universally known.

So he concentrated his efforts on ways to produce charcoal in the quantities required for such an application. He came up with a revolutionary new design for a continuous operation charcoal kiln, a vertical structure where new wood was added at the top and charcoal was extracted at the bottom; none stop, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The temperature of the charring process, besides being regulated with air vents, was carefully controlled by water, reticulated in a series of pipes through the hot charcoal.

Kurth's patented design won Federal Government approval and in 1941 he received funding for a full-scale production model. He chose the present location, some 10km north of Gembrook, where waste wood left over from the 1939 bushfires was plentiful.

In a trial production run starting 18 March 1942 some 500 tons of charcoal were produced by August that year; three tons every 24 hours from 21 tons of wood, the loading capacity of the kiln.

The process proved to be faster, less labour intensive than any conventional method, was 15% more efficient in yield and produced consistent high quality charcoal, free from contamination. The charcoal was graded and bagged on site before being shipped to distribution points in Melbourne.

Statistics show that some 60,000 vehicles were fitted with the so-called charcoal Gas Producers during the war years to give industry and the public the mobility to live with petrol rationing.

In February 1946 the kiln was de-commissioned and the Forestry Commission Victoria started using the site as a base camp for its forest management activities. Some 18 huts were purchased from the Army and used to accommodate the workforce, at times up to 100 men.

In 1982, after the FCV had moved out, Kurth Kiln was developed as a Picnic Ground. Material left over, after a fire destroyed most of the huts, was used to create a Caretakers Residence compound, where visitors now can see some of the historic settings and cultural artefacts from the period. The kiln itself, a monumental 10m high red brick and steel structure has, together with its associated sheds, become a landmark at the centre of the 3,500ha Kurth Kiln Park.

Although no precise figures are available it is predicted that some 10,000 visitors come to Kurth Kiln annually.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Tomahawk Creek Walking Track, Kurth Kiln Regional Park

Tomahawk Creek Walking Track, 4 km circuit, is in the Kurth Kiln State Park, 65 km east of Melbourne.

Starting at the Kurth Kiln Picnic Ground, it passes through lush green fern gullies, tall forest, and along the banks of the Tomahawk Creek.

There are many unusual large rock formations, a bridge, and an interesting Gorge and waterfalls.

The historical Kiln, outbuildings and large dam are nearby.

Another circuit trail starts at the Picnic Ground, known as the Thornton Track.

My visit was on Monday afternoon July 12, 2010.

See my Photo Album which shows the scenery, bridge, the Track, Information Board, the creek, the gorge, winter wildflowers, beautiful fungi, and the waterfalls.

Shiprock Falls, Kurth Kiln Regional Park

The Shiprock Falls Reserve is in the northern section of the Kurth Kiln Regiolnal Park, 65 km east of Melbourne, and 7 km from the town of Gembrook.

The McCrae Creek flows through the Reserve, and the falls cascade down from rock cliffs and past huge granite boulders.

I visited the Reserve on Monday afternoon July 12, 2010, exploring 1 km of walking tracks, with good views of the falls.

See all of the Photos of my visit!