Exploring Starling's Gap

Starling's Gap is located high up in the Yarra State Forest, about 80 km east of Melbourne, betweeen the towns of Powelltown and Warburton.

In the early 1900s, several sawmills operated near the Gap, on the Ada River. The mills closed in the late 1940s.

The steam-powed winches were used to haul the logs from the gullies along tramways, or overhead by flying "leads".

A few relics remain, such as rusting boilers, winches and cables, which may be seen near the Gap.

Many earlier relics, such as timber trestle bridges, were destroyed by the bushfires of 1939 and 1983.

The Gap has a nice picnic ground and camping area, and the 38 km "Walk into History" trail passes through it. Part of this Trail is known as the Upper Yarra Walking Track.

I visited Starling's Gap on April 8 2008, and hikled a 4 km return section of the Upper Yarra Walking Track to the site of the Ada Sawmill.

See the Photos

Exploring Starling's Gap

Starling's Gap is located high up in the Yarra State Forest, about 80 km east of Melbourne, betweeen the towns of Powelltown and Warburton.

In the early 1900s, several sawmills operated near the Gap, on the Ada River. The mills closed in the late 1940s.

The steam-powed winches were used to haul the logs from the gullies along tramways, or overhead by flying "leads".

A few relics remain, such as rusting boilers, winches and cables, which may be seen near the Gap.

Many earlier relics, such as timber trestle bridges, were destroyed by the bushfires of 1939 and 1983.

The Gap has a nice picnic ground and camping area, and the 38 km "Walk into History" trail passes through it. Part of this Trail is known as the Upper Yarra Walking Track.

I visited Starling's Gap on April 8 2008, and hikled a 4 km return section of the Upper Yarra Walking Track to the site of the Ada Sawmill.

See the Photos

Reid's Mill Tramway Track, Powelltown

The Reid's Mill Tramway Track is an easily graded trail which follows an old timber tramway to the site of Reid's Sawmill which was in use from 1920 to 1930.

It starts on the Noojee Road, about 500 m east of Powelltown, 70 km east of Melbourne.

The trail passes through magnificent tree ferns and tall mountain ash before entering dryer stringy bark forest.

Care should be taken when crossing the bridges provided over several small streams. A few relics of the mill can still be seen at the end of the trail.

The return walk can be made by following the Big Bertha Track.

I completed this 4 km (return) trail on March 24, 2008.

See my Photos of the trip!