Sawpit Creek - Condon's Track, Healesville

Condon's Track is a 6.5 km walking route in the Yarra Ranges National Park, within the Maroondah Catchment area, 60 km east of Melbourne.

It links Donnelley's Weir Rd with Monda Rd, an increase in altitude of about 800 m.

The southern section of the Track is along Melbourne Water's Road 17, one of several forest management roads in the catchment area on which walkers are permitted.

The Track goes over the "Echo Tunnel", where the Maroondah Aqueduct begins, and crosses Sawpit Creek, through old logging forest. Large stumps are along the track, with horizontal saw cuts still visible.

I walked some of this Track on December 21, 2008, along Road 17, starting at the junction with Donnelley's Weir Rd (116 m altitude) and passing Sawpit Creek.

I then walked up the Maroondah Reservoir Track to the junction with Henderson Hill Track, with nice views to Mt Riddell, a total distance of about 4 km on a very hot day!

The history of the region is interesting. Construction of the Maroondah Reservoir started in 1891, and was completed in 1927. Logging was widespread in the forest until the Reservoir and Aqueducts were opened. Many of the former logging tracks were taken over by the Board of Works (now Melbourne Water), and walker access was prohibited.
Sawpit Weir was decommissioned in 1988.

In 1929, visitor facilities were built in what was known as "Condon's Gully Picnic Stop", described as "just off Condon's Gully Track", and it was said that access was by horse and coach from Healesville. This may be next to the Sawpit Weir, in the area where large pine trees now grow.

There are references to remains of these facilities existing in the early 1970s, but the exact location is unknown.

There is confusion with the old names "Condon's Gully Track" and "Condon's Track". It is posssible that these were one and the same!

Condon's Creek, and the Condon's Creek Gully, are further to the east. The prohibited-access section of Road 17 appears to be the original track to the Gully. East of Condon's Gully is the Meethinna Creek and Meethinna Falls. Road 17 is believed to be the original access to the Falls.

Images of the period 1880 to the early 1900s show the beautiful Falls, but historical references indicate that by 1915, walking access had become difficult, due to the tracks becoming overgrown by forest growth, and not being maintained. There has been no public access permitted to the Falls since about 1939.

It is generally known that the Maroondah Reservoir was formed by damming the Watts River. Condon's Creek and Matthinna Creek formerly entered the Watts River, at the base of Mt Monda. These creeks now flow into the Reservoir.

See the full set of Photos of my trip

Scenic Graceburn Weir, Healesville

The Graceburn Weir and Aqueduct were built in 1892, and are part of Melbourn's water catchment and supply network. They are located east of Healesville, 80 km east of Melbourne.

Walkers are permitted to use the management track, 3 km return, which starts at the main gate at the Maroondah Highway and continues to the Weir.

The Weir and Aqueduct collect water originating from the valley between Mts Riddell and Juliet, which is then fed underground via a large iron pipe into the Maroondah Reservoir.

The Creswell pumping station is adjacent to the Aqueduct.

The Government proposes to close public access to the Weir, to minimise contamination by visitors, and to set up a new walking track in the area.

I visited the Weir on November 30, 2008, the last day of Spring!

The Aqueduct Track is designated as "Road 14". It joins gated "Road 6", at the Weir viewing point.

Road 6 is one of many "no public access" management roads in the catchment area, which leads around the base of rugged Mt Riddell.

My Photos include some archival images taken in 1906, for comparison purposes. In those years, a picnic area and facilities were located near the Weir - sections of this remained until 2007, but have now (2008) been removed. The early photos show visitors standing on the Weir infrastructure, but such access is no longer permitted.

Churchill National Park in spring

I visited the Churchill National Park, 25 km south-east of the Melbourne CBD, on October 14, 2008.

My 4 km circuit walking route started at the main picnic ground, reached from Churchill Park Drive, and included Channel Track, Kangaroo Track, and Bayview Track.

Two large mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos were enjoying the afternoon sunshine and indignant at me for invading their patch!

Then, a cute Dragon Lizard was discovered having a suntan on a log, and a large Tawny Owl was noticed protecting its nest from high up in tea trees.

This is a very good park, with many excellent walking tracks, some of which have important historical significance. It's a remnant of natural bush and an example of the original landscape before clearing and settlement.

It is an especially significant area for an amazing variety of birdlife. A total of 172 species has been recorded in the parks. The birds are attracted by the different types of food and environments; woodlands, forest, the lake and grassy open spaces. Some of these birds include: parrots, honeyeaters, wrens, thornbills, grebes, pelicans, cockatoos and even the migratory Japanese Snipe.

Parrots and Bell Miners (commonly know as Bellbirds) are probably the most prominent birds.

Animals include echidnas, frogs, lizards, snakes, and the kangaroos!

Although most of the park is open regrowth woodland, there are small areas of original forest. Apart from the access road, there are no other vehicle tracks.

In the 1920s urban expansion saw local stone quarried for road metal and building material, a water supply channel was dug to Dandenong and the State Electricity Commission acquired a powerline easement. Fire and clearing of some areas also took their toll.

In 1941 the area was declared Dandenong National Park, and was renamed Churchill (after Sir Winston Churchill) in 1944.

In 1997, the nearby Lysterfield Park was amalgamated with the Churchill National Park, following aquisition of private land linking the two areas.

Access to the Park is now much easier, via the Eastlink Tollway nearby.

See the full set of Photos

O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail - Cement Ck Section

Now part of the Yarra Ranges National Park, the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail is a long, step-on, step-off 27 km walking/cycling/horse route starting at Don Rd, Launching Place, and ending at the O'Shannassy Reservoir, about 80 km east of Melbourne, near the town of Warburton.

The Aqueduct was constructed between 1911 and 1915, and decommissioned in 1997. The maintenance track, known as Road 18, has been opened up progressively for walkers, horse-riders and cyclists, following transfer of land ownership from Melbourne Water to Parks Victoria.

The Trail passes through magnificent Mountain Ash forest, past fern gullies, with excellent views across the Yarra Valley towards Mt Little Joe and the mountains near Big Pats Creek. It winds its way around the base of Mt Donna Buang and Ben Cairn, passing many aqueduct engineering works, bridges, syphons, huts, distance marker posts and old maintenance sheds.

New access gates for management vehicles and walkers have been built at various locations along the route.
Sadly, there has been massive encroachment of vegetation, fallen trees, branches, and weeds in the Aqueduct.
I have completed 23 km of the full Trail - 46 km return, in several trips!

My photo albums of these trips may be viewed at http://worldisround.com/home/bobpadula/index.html.

A comprehensive set of Trail Notes, and detailed maps, may be downloaded from the Parks Victoria Web site:
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_1751.pdf

The history and development of the aqueduct may be viewed at
http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/vic/Warburton/OShannassyWeirAqueductandAssociatedFeatures/17556

On September 13 2008 I did a review exploration of about 2 km of the section of the Trail westerly from the new gate at the end of Cement Creek Rd. I also visited Road Seven, which turns off the Trail, a former logging road which winds its way up the side of the Donna Buang Range.

Some of the management Roads in the area are prohibited to walkers, as they are located in the Melbourne Water catchment area - these are prominently signed, with gates. Walkers should not venture along these tracks.

Photos of this trip

Bingley Hill Hike - Healesville

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On August 30, 2008, I went up to Donnelly's Weir, Healesville.

From there, I did a 6 km (return) walk, which took me up Roads 12 and 11.

This route forms part of the long 9 km track to the Mt St Leonard Summit.

My journey started at the picnic ground, and took me up Bingley's Hill, then on to a lookout designated as "View Point Q", at 305 m altitude.

There were excellent views from this lookout to Mt Monda and the surrounding forest in Melbourne Water's catchment area, which is prohibited access.

Further on was a "WP" - a water point (dam) used for fire management purposes.

The WP is at the distance marker "11 5", which means Road 11, 5 km from the northern end of Road 11, which starts at Monda Rd.

I had previously walked about 3 km of Road 11 from the Monda Rd junction.

In spring, the Mt St Leonard Run is an annual 10 km race from the Maroondah Dam, to the Summit, which follows this route. The Summit is at 1010 m! I don't think that I will bother!

This route forms part of the Australian Bicentennial Trail, which starts at Donnelly's Weir and ends at Cooktown!

Photos

O'Shannassy Aqueduct Track - Woods Pt Rd Sector

Now part of the Yarra Ranges National Park, the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Track is a long, step-on, step-off 19.1 km walking/cycling/horse route starting at Don Rd, Launching Place, and ending at the Cement Creek Rd, about 70 km east of Melbourne, near the town of Warbuton.

The Aqueduct was constructed between 1911 and 1915, and decommissioned in 1997. The maintenance track is being progressively opened up for walkers, horse-riders and cyclists, following transfer of land ownership from Melbourne Water to Parks Victoria.

As at July 2008, work is in progress to extend the Track westerly by 4 km (from Don Rd to Parrot Rd), and wasterly by 7.6 km (from Cement Creek Rd to the Reservoir Gate).

The Section from Cement Creek to the Reservoir may be used by walkers, horses and cyclists, but has not as yet been officially opened.

When complete, the Track will be 30.7 km in total.

The latest section to be opened is the 2 km route between Yuonga Rd and the easterly diversion tunnel.

The Track passes through magnificent Mountain Ash forest, past fern gullies, with excellent views across the Yarra Valley towards Mt Little Joe and the mountains near Big Pats Creek. It winds its way around the base of Mt Donna Buang and Ben Cairn, passing many aqueduct engineering works, bridges, syphons, huts, distance marker posts and old maintenance sheds.

The maintenance route is known as Road 18.

New access gates for management vehicles and walkers have been built at various locations along the route.

I walked a 4 km (return) section starting at the Wood's Point Rd on July 1, 2008, where the Aqueduct emerges from the tunnel. This was a follow-up walk to check the status of this part of the Track - I had previously done this Sector in July 2006. Since then, there has been massive encroachment of vegitation, fallen trees, branches, and weeds in the Aqueduct.

I have completed 23 km of the full route - 46 km return!

The images of this walk in my Photo Album include pictures of the Aqueduct, the walkers' access gate near the Wood's Pt Rd, views across the Yarra Valley towards Starling Gap, and some quaint black-headed sheep in an adjoining farm.There are also two images of historical significance, showing the construction of the Aqueduct in 1911, and how it appeared in 1940.

Please see my previous eight photo albums covering my exploration of other sections of this magnificent track, which I consider to be amongst the best in the Yarra Ranges National Park!

A comprehensive set of Track Notes, and detailed maps, may be downloaded from the Parks Victoria Web site:
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_1751.pdf

The history and development of the aqueduct may be viewed at
http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/vic/Warburton/OShannassyWeirAqueductandAssociatedFeatures/17556

The Graceburn Weir and Aqueduct Walk

The Graceburn Weir and Aqueduct were built in 1892, and are part of Melbourn's water catchment and supply network. They are located east of Healesville, 80 km east of Melbourne.

Walkers are permitted to use the management track, 3 km return, which starts at the main gate at the Maroondah Highway and continues to the Weir.

The Government proposes to close public access to the Weir, to minimise contamination by visitors, and to set up a new Track in the area.

I visited the Weir on June 24, 2008.

My Photo Album of the visit includes some archival photos taken in 1906, for comparison purposes. In those years, a picnic area and facilities were located near the Weir - sections of this remained until 2007, but have now been removed. The early photos show visitors standing on the Weir infrastructure, but such access is no longer permitted.