Sawpit Creek - Maroondah Forest

This set of pix was taken on July 26 2012, in the Maroondah Forest, Healesville, 60 km east of Melbourne.

They show the scenery and environnent along the Condon Track on a 4 km return hike, starting at the Donnelly's Weir Rd.

The images include views of the beautiful ferns, which have regenerated after the terrible bushfires of February 2009.

The track crosses Sawpit Creek several times, and is the route to the top of Mt Monda, 8 km distant.

The Sawpit Weir, Echo Tunnel, and the Maroondah Aqueduct were inspected, just off the track.

The Maroondah Aqueduct, Donnelly's weir and Echo Tunnel are part of the first diversion scheme on the Watts River, completed in 1891, and represent the earliest structures associated with the Maroondah reservoir.

The aqueduct was the first of a new style of low maintenance concrete lined channel constructed by the MMBW, the earlier channels being lined with hand cut bluestone or granite pitchers.

The Echo Tunnel and Sawpit Creek Weir are early features on the public walking track to Condon's Gully which was a popular destination for visitors to Healesville guesthouses during the early twentieth century. The site continues to be a popular destination for visitors along the aqueduct pathway for Donnelly's Weir.

In years gone by, picnic ground existed next to the Sawpit Weir - its legacy survives in the stonework, steps, and mature pine trees.

See a Slideshow of all of the pix of my trip!