Warrandyte State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warrandyte State Park |
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The Warrandyte State Park at the tunnel street entrance
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| Type | State Park |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Area | 586 hectares |
| Operated by | Parks Victoria |
| Status | Open (8:30am-9pm) |
| Paths | Unsealed bush paths and hiking trails |
| Terrain | Heavily forested hills, valleys, gullies, riverbanks and flats |
| Water | Yarra River, Andersons Creek, Jumping Creek, Various other creeks and gullies |
| Vegetation | Australian Native |
| Connecting transport | Car (limited parking), Bus (indirect service) |
| Landmarks | Yarra River, Fourth Hill, Warrandyte Gorge, Gold mine ruins |
| Facilities | Toilets, Seating, Interpretive Signs, Canoe Ramp |
Warrandyte State Park is a special nature area. It's located east of Melbourne, Victoria. You can find it along the Yarra River. The park covers 586 hectares (about 1448 acres). It protects important bushland in different spots around Warrandyte and Wonga Park.
This park holds many important natural, historical, and archaeological sites. For example, it's where gold was first found in Victoria in 1851. It also keeps safe the old gold mines and tunnels. The park is a popular spot for school groups and local hikers.
Long ago, the Indigenous Australians of the Wurundjeri nation lived on this land. After Europeans arrived, gold was discovered in Warrandyte. The area was mined for many years. At one point, almost all the trees were cut down. Bushfires have also changed the area. However, these fires have helped the bushland stay healthy. They also reduced the impact of human buildings. This allowed the plants to grow back throughout the 20th century.
Today, the park's biggest challenges are introduced species. These are plants and animals that don't belong there. Examples include foxes, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Since the park is close to towns, controlled burning is done often. This helps prevent big bushfires.
Contents
Park History
The land that is now Warrandyte State Park was first home to the Indigenous Australians of the Wurundjeri nation. After European settlers came to Melbourne, they slowly moved east. Gold was found at Andersons Creek in July 1851. This led to the first gold licenses being given out in Victoria.
Around 1900, about 250 miners worked in Warrandyte. The area was heavily mined in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Miners dug large underground spaces called "stopes." Many of these old mine shafts and structures are still in the park today.
The park itself was created in 1975. This was done to protect the important natural, historical, and archaeological sites around Warrandyte. Later, other areas like Stane Brae and Yarra Brae were added. This was because they were important for conservation. The Mount Lofty area was the most recent addition in 1997.
Park Geography
The park is about 24 km east of Melbourne. It sits along the Yarra River. The park is made up of several separate areas. These areas are next to the Yarra River. They stretch from Pound Bend in the west to Mount Lofty in the east. Other parts of the park are in the hills south of Warrandyte.
Here are some of the main areas within the park:
- Pound Bend - This is the westernmost part of the park. It includes the area around a bend in the Yarra River.
- Norman Reserve - A small reserve where Pound Bend starts upstream.
- Fourth Hill - One of the highest spots in Warrandyte. It was heavily mined for gold.
- Whipstick Gully - A valley north of Fourth Hill. It was also heavily mined.
- Timber Reserve
- The Common
- Black Flat - A flat area next to the river, near Jumping Creek.
- Jumping Creek - Where Jumping Creek flows into the Yarra River.
- Yarra Brae - An area in the east of Warrandyte gorge. It's on the southern side of the river.
- Mount Lofty - The easternmost part of the state park.
Other smaller areas in the park include:
- Scotchman's Hill
- The Island
- Koornong
- Blue Tongue Bend
- Gravel Reserve
- Stane Brae
- Bend of Isles
Gold Mine Sites
The areas around Fourth Hill and Whipstick Gully were mined the most. The Gold Heritage Walk is a trail with signs. These signs tell the story of the goldfields.
Some of the old mine ruins and structures you can see include:
- Victory Mine - This mine was very rich. It produced a lot of gold from 1896. The main shaft went down 67 meters. You can see the ruins of a steam-powered rock crusher here.
- Open Mines - These were first dug by Europeans. Chinese prospectors often reworked them. They were often more successful at finding gold.
- Johnson's Mine - This mine had a horizontal tunnel going 60 meters into the hill. Gold was not found, and the mine was abandoned.
- Miner's Hut - Built in the 1950s. Most buildings before 1939 were destroyed by the "Black Friday" bushfires.
- Monument Mine - These mines were run by two or three people. The last ones in Fourth Hill worked until the 1960s.
- Louis Michel Memorial - A stone monument marking where gold was first found in Victoria. It was put up in 1935.
- Geraghty's Mine - One of the largest mines. The main tunnel was built from 1859 to 1860. It runs for 130 meters. It had many side tunnels and a tramway.
Park Ecology
- See Also: Flora of Australia, Fauna of Australia
The park has a wide variety of wildlife. You can find kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, platypus, and koalas. Over 100 types of birds have been seen here. There are also many reptiles, frogs, fish, and insects.
Most of the plants you see today have regrown. This is because the area was almost completely cleared in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Smooth-barked Manna Gums and Silver Wattles grow along the Yarra River. Different types of Box Eucalypts and other Wattles cover the hills. The hilly areas have open forests. They have native grasses, creepers, orchids, and other wildflowers growing underneath.
Fun Activities in the Park
You can do many activities in the park and on the Yarra River. Some activities can be guided tours.
Here are some popular things to do:
- Horse riding - There are special trails for horses. These are in the Fourth Hill, Whipstick Gully, Timber Reserve, The Common, and Yarra Brae areas. Horses must stay on these trails. Sometimes, trails close in bad weather.
- Canoeing / kayaking - These are popular along the Yarra River. You can paddle through much of the park area.
- Mountain biking - There are several trails for bikes. Riders should stay on the marked trails. There are old mine shafts off the trails. Riding off-trail can also harm plants.
- Walking and Hiking - Many tracks are available for exploring the park on foot.
- Abseiling & Rock Climbing - Guided groups sometimes do these activities in certain parts of the park.
- Fossicking - You need to buy a miner's right to look for gold.
How to Get There
- Fourth Hill - You can reach Fourth Hill from different streets off Yarra Street. Some are paved, and some are dirt roads.
- Tunnel Street - Another access point to the park.
Park Rules
To keep the park safe and healthy, please follow these rules:
- No dogs, cats, or firearms are allowed.
- Fires can only be lit in special fireplaces provided.
- Horse riding is only allowed on marked trails.
- Do not dig for worms on the river bank.
- You can look for gold in the bed of Anderson's Creek. You must use only hand tools.
- Visitors are also advised to:
- Stay on walking tracks. There are many hidden mine shafts in the hills.
- Tracks in Whipstick Gully can be steep and slippery when wet.
- Old gold sites are protected, so please do not disturb them.
- Using drones requires a special permit.
