La Trobe River Rainforest Walk

The La Trobe River Rainforest is a beautiful area within the Yarra State Forest, 80 km east of Melbourne, near the Powelltown-Noojee Rd.

Up to the 1940s, it was a logging region, with many timber tramways used for transporting the logs to the mills.
Sadly, the forest was devastated in the terrible bushfires of 1939 and 1983, and few artifacts remain.

The forest we now enjoy is mainly regrowth.

Many of the former tramways have been converted into walking tracks - the 35 km "Walk into History" links Powelltown with Big Pat's Creek.

I hiked a 4 km (return) section of the Walk into History track on February 27, 2008, as part of my objective of completing the entire track - I have now done about 15 km of it!

This Section, along a former tramway route, was from the High Lead car park, Noojee Rd, to a point near the Big River Basin Rd.

This sector of the Track crosses the La Trobe River several times, over slippery logs. Take care!

Unfortunately, the track has become almost impassable near the Basin Rd end, as it leads into thick jungle and a swamp.

A few km to the east of the High Lead car park is the La Trobe River Picnic/Camping ground, which I visited, reached from the Ada River Rd. This is in the heart of the rainforest, with an interesting, well-maintained track leading down to the river through tree ferns.

See the set of Photos of this trip!

Exploring the Timber Tramways near Powelltown, Victoria

The "Walk into History" is a 35 km track, following the alignment of former timber tramways, extending from Powelltown (85 km east of Melbourne) to Big Pat's Creek (near Warburton).

This is an account of a 6 km return hike on two sectors of the track on February 13, 2008:

1. Westerly from Big Creek Rd crossing
2. Northerly from the High Lead car park along the High Lead Summit Track, next to the Latrobe River

These tracks pass through tall forest and beautiful ferns.

In the early 1900s, the area around Powelltown was opened up by a network of tramways which carried logs from the mountains of the Upper Yarra and LaTrobe Valleys to the Warburton railway. The largest mill in the area, from which Powelltown takes its name, was operated by the Victorian Powell Wood Process Company. The company was formed in 1912 to exploit the new, and ultimately unsuccessful “Powell” method of wood preservation, which involved treating the timber with a mixture of molasses, water and arsenic.

The tramways kept close to creeks so they could maintain an even grade and there were many bridges. Sawn wooden rails were used on the earlier lighter lines, and in one place a tunnel cut though a hill. The forest trees were cut with axes and cross cut saws then winched on to the tramway with big steam winches set up beside the tracks. The tramlines declined in the 1930s depression. The 1939 bushfires devastated this area and meant sawmills were required to relocate to the edge of the forest. This, combined with increased truck traffic, caused the tramways’ demise.

The 1983 Ash Wednesday fires again devastated this area.

See the Photos of my trip!

Walk into History, Powelltown Sector

The "Walk into History" is a 35 km track, following the alignment of former timber tramways, extending from Powelltown (85 km east of Melbourne) to Big Pat's Creek (near Warburton).

This is an account of a 4 km return hike from the Powelltown end of the track, on February 11, 2008.This follows the Little Yarra River Gully, through tall forest and past beautiful ferns.

In the early 1900s, the area around Powelltown was opened up by a network of tramways which carried logs from the mountains of the Upper Yarra and LaTrobe Valleys to the Warburton railway. The largest mill in the area, from which Powelltown takes its name, was operated by the Victorian Powell Wood Process Company. The company was formed in 1912 to exploit the new, and ultimately unsuccessful “Powell” method of wood preservation, which involved treating the timber with a mixture of molasses, water and arsenic.

The tramways kept close to creeks so they could maintain an even grade and there were many bridges. Sawn wooden rails were used on the earlier lighter lines, and in one place a tunnel cut though a hill. The forest trees were cut with axes and cross cut saws then winched on to the tramway with big steam winches set up beside the tracks. The tramlines declined in the 1930s depression.

The 1939 bushfires devastated this area and meant sawmills were required to relocate to the edge of the forest. This, combined with increased truck traffic, caused the tramways’ demise. The 1983 Ash Wednesday fires again devastated this area.

See the Photos of my trip.

Reid's Mill Tramway Trail, Powelltown

Reid's Mill Tramway Trail follows an old timber tramway to the site of Reids Sawmill which was in use from 1920 to 1930. It starts on the Noojee Road, at the settlement of Powelltown, 85 km east of Melbourne.

The trail passes through magnificent tree ferns and tall mountain ash before entering dryer stringy bark forest. A few relics of the mill can still be seen at the end of the trail.

The return trip may be made via the steeper Big Bertha track. This is a shorter track, but much steeper. It finishes at the picnic area opposite the DSE offices just to the west of the town.

In the early 1900s, the area around Powelltown was opened up by a network of tramways which carried logs from the mountains of the Upper Yarra and LaTrobe Valleys to the Warburton railway.

he largest mill in the area, from which Powelltown takes its name, was operated by the Victorian Powell Wood Process Company. The company was formed in 1912 to exploit the new, and ultimately unsuccessful “Powell” method of wood preservation, which involved treating the timber with a mixture of molasses, water and arsenic.

The tramways kept close to creeks so they could maintain an even grade and there were many bridges. Sawn wooden rails were used on the earlier lighter lines, and in one place a tunnel cut though a hill. The forest trees were cut with axes and cross cut saws then winched on to the tramway with big steam winches set up beside the tracks. The tramlines declined in the 1930s depression. The 1939 bushfires devastated this area and meant sawmills were required to relocate to the edge of the forest. This, combined with increased truck traffic, caused the tramways’ demise. The 1983 Ash Wednesday fires again devastated this area.

I walked the Big Bertha (western) section of this track on February 4, 2008, starting and finishing at the interesting historical display at Powelltown.

I had previously walked the eastern section some months ago.

See the Photos!

Exploring Seven Acre Rock, Yarra State Forest

Seven Acre Rock is a superb lookout deep in the Yarra State Forest, 10 km south of the settlement of Powelltown, 65 km east of Melbourne.

The site includes four separate areas of outcrop of Tynong Granite. The areas include treeless rock slabs and granite tors several metres high.

Access is via the Yarra Junction-Noojee Rd, then up the steep, rough and winding Learmonth Creek Rd (west of Powelltown), into Bunyip Rd, then to the car park/picnic ground.

The walking track to the Rock starts here, about 2 km return, offering marvellous views across the Bunyip State Park.

The Rock is about 720m asl.

I explored the Rock on January 22, 2008.

See the Photos of the trip!