Bruce Bence Trail - Warrandyte State Park

Restored poppet head

Old excavations

Victory Mine

I visited the Whipstick Gully Historic Goldmining Area, Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of Melbourne town, on April 6, 2010.

From tne main car park, I followed the Bruce Bence Walking Trail up Fourth Hill, passing old excavations and diggings from the early 1900s. This then took me back to the car park, the covered Information Board and Shelter, the nearby restored Poppet Head, the remains of the Stamping Battery, the old Quarry and the entrance to the former Victory Mine.

At the Shelter there is a Sound Marker, with an inbuilt speaker system and control panel, which provides a recorded narrative of the history of goldmining in the area, with sound effects!

Bruce Bence (1928-1994), aftder which the track is named,  was a noted historian, bushwalker, and historical society member, the author of numerous monograms and publications about the history of Warrandyte.

He was employed in the former Postmaster General's Department, and then in what would become Telecom Australia.

Total walking distance was about 3 km.

See all of the Photos of my visit.