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.
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Bogong High Plains
- NewBogong 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.
- NewDungey’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.
- NewThe 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.
Cobungra River
- NewThe 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.
- NewHydraulic 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.
Fernshaw & the Watts River
The Watts River rises from area of magnificent forest covering the area from Fernshaw, along the Divide, down to Donna Buang, and back past Mt Juliet. Some of the biggest trees on the planet are located in this forest. This area is now designated as a water catchment and is closed to the general public, except for a very few tracks where walking is permitted.
- NewState 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.
- NewA 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. As this walk is now entirely within the Watts River catchment, this provides a glimpse into an area we can no longer visit.
- NewAt the Source of the Watts River [1888]
Original poetry inspired by the Watts River, taking us into the mysterious forest that conceals the source of the Watts River.
- NewThe Watts River (Fernshaw) [1899]
Original poetry taking a whimsical view of the Watts River as it flows through Fernshaw.
- NewOn Mount Juliet at Sunrise [1935]
An account of a party climbing from Fernshaw to the summit of Mt Juliet, where they camped hoping for a sunrise to reward their efforts.
Flinders Ranges
- NewDifficult Rescue of Explorer: Broken Leg in Gammon Ranges [1946]
During C. Warren Bonython’s 1946 attempt to cross the Gammon Ranges, Bob Crocker slipped and broke his leg, resulting in a lengthy rescue. His accident was immortalized with the location where it occurred now named “Crocker Saddle”.
- NewClimbing 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.
Langi Ghiran
- NewThe 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.
- NewArarat [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.
- NewThe 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.
Marysville & Lake Mountain
- NewA Walk to Wood’s Point [1872]
A walk from Melbourne out to Marysville by way of Fernshaw, then up over Mt Bismark where they met an old man of the mountain. Then conditions got harder as they pushed on to Wood’s Point.
- NewVictoria’s Valley of Giants [1932]
A visit to several waterfalls up near Cambarville. Some like Cora Lynn Falls can still be visited today, but the the track to the Meeting of the Waters (downstream from Cora Lynn Falls) has long since been lost.
Mathinna Falls (Healesville)
Mathinna Falls near Healesville used to be regarded as one of the finest sights in the district. 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.
- NewA 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.
- NewMathinna Falls [1918]
This article is a fairly florid account of a walk from Healesville up the steep track to the summit of Mt Monda, then descending to the highlight of the day: Mathinna Falls.
Mt Donna Buang
- NewOn 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.
- NewA 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.
- NewA Voice From the Bush [1925]
A hundred years ago when Donna Buang was being stripped of trees, the author rode one of the timber tramways from Warburton halfway up the mountain, then another past Cement Creek to near the summit. The process of tree felling is described, along with an interview with a paling splitter. There’s also an insight into the minds of the timber workers who viewed the gigantic fully-mature mountain ash trees as worthless.
The Otways
- NewA Joy Ride on a Narrow Gauge Line [1918]
An evocative description of a journey along the full length of the Colac – Beech Forest – Crowes narrow gauge railway and back. These days much of the old line is now the Old Beechy Rail Trail.
Tragedy in the Bush
- NewAbove 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.
- NewDramatic 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.
Tramways
- NewFollowing 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.
- NewVictoria’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.
Upper Yarra Falls & Upper Yarra Track
In the early 1900s the Upper Yarra Walking Track from Warburton to Walhalla was a popular multi-day walk. The Black Friday bushfires in 1939 wiped out the area, and the construction of the Upper Yarra Reservoir resulted in the flooding of parts of the track, including McVeigh’s Hotel. Much of the area, including the magnificent Upper Yarra Falls, are now within a water catchment and are closed to the general public.
- NewAn Excursion to the Upper Yarra Falls [1884]
A three part series describing an expedition from Warburton towards Walhalla, with the aim of visiting the highly regarded, but seldom visited, Upper Yarra Falls. Navigation was difficult, with the track frequently overgrown, and a lot of fallen timber. The closer they got to the end, the harder it got.
- NewThe 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. As with the falls, the headwaters of the Yarra are now in a water catchment, and are closed to the general public.
- NewA 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.
- NewOver the Baw Baw Mountains [1909]
A journey from Warburton to Walhalla along the relatively new Upper Yarra Walking Track. The scenery was beautiful, but the walkers had to contend with bushfires burning in the surrounding forest. To finish the walk they visit Mt. Baw Baw, cross the Thompson River, and head in to Walhalla.
- NewOver the Baw-Baws: Walhalla — Warburton — Belgrave [1926]
Starting with the Walhalla narrow gauge railway — still partly running today, including across the Thomson River bridge — a party of four walk the Yarra Track back to Warburton.
