I explored a relatively unknown walking track in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD, on July 24, 2008.
My route started at the Norman Picnic Reserve at the end of Bradley's Lane, which is reached from the Warrandyte-Research Rd.
The track follows the Yarra River easterly, to the rapids, and return, in the area known as Pound Bend.
In 1870, the river was partially dammed at Pound Bend near Norman Reserve at its eastern entrance and near Bob's wetlands at its western exit. Miners then blasted a 300 m long tunnel through solid rock. The river was then fully dammed at the entrance and exit to the tunnel and water was diverted through 300 m and out the other side leaving an astonishing 3.85 km of riverbed around Pound Bend exposed to the sun and the miners picks.
The silt in the river bed proved to be deeper than expected and the machinery used could not be operated economically.The outlet is now used as a recreation area providing a safe paddling pool for children.
When the river is low, the effects of the excavations are exposed.
See the full set of Photos
My route started at the Norman Picnic Reserve at the end of Bradley's Lane, which is reached from the Warrandyte-Research Rd.
The track follows the Yarra River easterly, to the rapids, and return, in the area known as Pound Bend.
In 1870, the river was partially dammed at Pound Bend near Norman Reserve at its eastern entrance and near Bob's wetlands at its western exit. Miners then blasted a 300 m long tunnel through solid rock. The river was then fully dammed at the entrance and exit to the tunnel and water was diverted through 300 m and out the other side leaving an astonishing 3.85 km of riverbed around Pound Bend exposed to the sun and the miners picks.
The silt in the river bed proved to be deeper than expected and the machinery used could not be operated economically.The outlet is now used as a recreation area providing a safe paddling pool for children.
When the river is low, the effects of the excavations are exposed.
See the full set of Photos
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