Historical Newspaper Articles
The following is a collection of articles taken from old newspapers that provide context for stories on this website, or are interesting in their own right from a bushwalking perspective. All articles link back to scans of the originals, though they’re easier to read here. I’ve kept the text as close to the original as I could, with the exception of minor edits to improve readability.
- Bogong High Plains: A Lady’s Experiences [1927]
In this article the author partakes in a pack-horse tour of the High Plains, starting from the Blue Duck (still in existence today) and staying at Fitzgeralds Hut for a few days (they were guided by Mr Fitzgerald himself). One of the more remarkable observations was of plentiful emus up on the plains, something I’ve never seen or heard of.
- Dungey’s Track: A Horse-Pad in Alpine Country [1929]
Robert Henderson Croll was the vice-president of the Melbourne Walking Club, and the author of many articles and books on walking. Here he describes a walk from the Ovens Valley along Dungey’s Track as far as Blairs Hut, where his party branches off and climbs up to the Bogong High Plains.
- The Bogong High Plains: Hiking Across the Playground of the Clouds [1929]
A crossing of the High Plains in early springtime, with the party tested by snow and hard weather. Starting from Bright, they made use of huts that are still known to us today (Bogong Jack’s and Kelly’s), returning to civilization via the Omeo Highway and Tallangatta.
- The Cobungra Diggings [1885]
Part one of a description of a visit to the prolific mining operations centred around the Cobungra River. While the Cobungra Company and their Brandy Creek Mine feature, many other mines are mentioned.
- Hydraulic Sluicing at the Cobungra Mine [1885]
Part two of a description of a visit to the mines around the Cobungra River. This article focusses on the Cobungra Company’s Brandy Creek Mine, and the water race they constructed to feed the hydraulic sluice used to recover gold from the soil of the mountainside.
- State Forest of the Watts River [1872]
The Inspector of State Forests was commissioned to provide a description of the forest in the Watts River catchment (near Healesville) at a time when it was still largely untouched and unvisited. One notable discovery was a fallen mountain ash measuring 435 feet (132 metres) despite the top of the trunk having been broken off, with an estimate that it would have been over 500 feet (152 metres) originally.
- A Visit to the Falls of the Watts [1872]
A vivid account of a multi-day journey starting from Fernshaw and heading up the Watts River in search of a waterfall. The explorers battled difficult terrain and were successful in reaching a series of cascades, though not the waterfall they’d expected to find. These days the walk is entirely within the Watts River catchment, which is closed to the general public.
- Climbing Precipitous Cleft Peak in Gammon Ranges [1948]
Warren Bonython made many visits to the Gammons Ranges, naming numerous peaks (including Cleft Peak) and natural features, and achieving many firsts. In this account he makes an ascent of Cleft Peak, after the first attempt was aborted when one of the party broke a leg.
- The Ararat Water Supply [1875]
When the town of Ararat required a more substantial water supply, plans were drawn up to harness the creeks running off Langi Ghiran. This included the construction of a reservoir with the first solid-stone dam wall in Australia. At the time of this article the project was still under construction.
- Ararat [1876]
A brief mention in a general news story gives an idea of the troubles that the project to supply Ararat with water from Langi Ghiran faced.
- The Langi Ghiran Water Works [1877]
This article presents a detailed history of the Langi Ghiran water project, focussing particularly the troubles that it had run into. By this time the project was nearing completion, but was suffering from bursting pipes and the effects of drought.
- A Holiday Trip: A City Girl at Healesville [1906]
A exciting and detailed account of a visit to Mathinna Falls during a holiday at Healesville, along with observations about other attractions in the district.
- Mathinna Falls [1918]
Mathinna Falls near Healesville used to be regarded as one of the finest sights in the district. This article is a fairly florid account of a walk from Healesville to Mt Monda and the falls. The construction of Maroondah Dam in the 1920s flooded the walking track used to access the falls, and the MMBW refused permission to construct an alternate track. The falls are now within the catchment for Maroondah Dam, which is closed to the general public.
- On the Marysville Track [1913]
A group sets out from Melbourne via Warburton to walk the newly opened Acheron Way, heading for Marysville. Though they didn’t make it all the way, they did find a wealth of beautiful scenery.
- A Trip Over the Divide [1914]
A walk from Healesville along the ranges from Dom Dom Saddle, across Mt Vinegar, and on to Donna Buang. With night falling, they make a dash for Warburton and the last train home.
- Above the Snow Line on the High Plains [1936]
A report of a party of skiers lost on Bogong (Cleve Cole, Percy Hull, and Howard Michell), which would end with the death of Cleve Cole.
- Dramatic Rescue of Two Missing Skiers [1936]
After rescuers had given up hope, two missing skiers (Cleve Cole and Percy Hull) were found alive in the Big River Valley. Unfortunately Cleve Cole would not ultimately survive.
- Following Timber Tramways: Ideal Walking Routes [1933]
Old tramways make excellent walking tracks. The author describes a walk around the Yarra Ranges making use of timber tramways, and covers other areas in Victoria where they are to be found, including the (now long gone) remnants of a tramway at Sealers Cove.
- Victoria’s Timber Tramways Have Their Story [1945]
An overview of the timber tramways that used to thread their way through Victoria’s forests, and in many cases have now become walking tracks.
- An Excursion to the Upper Yarra Falls: No. I [1884]
The narrator set out on an expedition from Warburton towards Walhalla, accompanied by a small party, with the aim of visiting the highly regarded, but seldom visited, Upper Yarra Falls. Their journey was fraught with difficulties, including an overgrown and often indiscernible track, dense scrub, and fallen timber.
- An Excursion to the Upper Yarra Falls: No. II [1884]
In this second part of a walk to the Upper Yarra Falls, the adventurers continue to encounter difficult track conditions. After their horse fell repeatedly on the rough track, they gave the name “Mount Horsefall” to an unnamed peak, a name which remains today. Pressing on they manage to reach their objective.
- An Excursion to the Upper Yarra Falls: No. III [1884]
In this conclusion to the narrative of the Upper Yarra Falls expedition, the party now need to return to civilization, having reached their objective. But with the track becoming extremely hard to follow their plans are thrown into disarray.
- The Far Upper Yarra [1905]
A group of five with a packhorse set out to visit the source of the Yarra River, making camp on Falls Creek just below the Upper Yarra Falls. After visiting the falls, they go in search of the head of the Yarra. Both the falls and the headwaters of the Yarra are now in a water catchment, and are closed to the general public.
- A Visit to the Yarra Falls [1907]
A journey by horse, bicycle, and foot from the suburbs of Melbourne all the way to the Upper Yarra Falls. At this time the route to the falls was not well known, but this was about to change with the Lands Department soon to cut a better track.
- Over the Baw Baw Mountains: Part 1 [1909]
A group of friends begin their journey from Warburton to Walhalla along the relatively new Upper Yarra Walking Track (opened in 1907). It wasn’t all beautiful scenery though, with bushfires burning in the surrounding forest. Much of the course of this track is now in the Upper Yarra water catchment, and is closed to the general public.
- Over the Baw Baw Mountains: Part 2 [1909]
The conclusion of a journey from Warburton to Walhalla. In this part the group visit Mt. Baw Baw, Mushroom Rocks, and cross the Thompson River. There was plenty of mining activity around Walhalla, though the narrow gauge railway linking Walhalla to Moe was still about five months from opening.
