HepburnRegional Park,
MtFranklinReserve
VisitorGuide
Welcometoarealtreasure.HepburnRegionalParknestlesaroundthefamousmineralspringstownshipsofDaylesford,HepburnandHepburnSprings.Richwithnaturalspringsandrelicsfromthegoldminingera,theparkaboundswithopportunitiesforbushwalking,mountainbikeandhorseriding,picnickingandnaturestudy.MtFranklinisasmallvolcaniccraterwithbasiccampingsetamidexotictrees.
Enjoyingthepark
Walking
ScrubWren
Ahavenforplantsandanimals
Trees:Most of theparksupports afairly dryopen box,peppermintandstringybarkeucalyptforest.Themoresoutherlyareasare damper andcarryatallerforestofMessmateandCandlebarks-alongwith Mannagums,afavouritefoodforkoalas.
Wildflowers:Springwildflowersmakeacolourful displaywithVictoria’sfloralemblem,thepinkorwhitebelledCommonHeath,frequentlyfound growingundereucalypts.
Thereisa rangeofwalkingtracks throughoutthepark.TheTipperaryWalkingTrackoffersahostof walkoptions,andformoreadventurouswalkerstheGoldfieldsTrackpassesthroughthepark.Checkthemapfordetails.
Picnics
Thereareseveral picnicareaswithwoodbarbecues providedatmost sites.ElectricbarbecuesareavailableatHepburnMineralSpringsReserve.
Camping
YoucancampforshortstaysatMt Franklinwhich is also suitableforcaravansandmotorhomesonafirstcomefirstservedbasis.Toilets,fireplacesand washingwaterareprovided.
Horseridingandmountainbiking
Mountain bikesand horsesarepopularactivitiesand agreatway to seethepark.Bikesandhorsesarenotpermittedonwalkingtracks,however,manyothertracksareavailablefortheseactivities.
Fossicking
Panningforgoldalong SailorsCreekisa popularpastimeinthepark.AlladultsmustholdacurrentMinersRighttoengage infossicking.Rememberto fillany holesmadeandleavethe areaasyoufound it.Relicsmust notbe disturbedorremovedandareprotectedby law.SeeoverpageforMinersRights.
Birds:CommonbirdsincludeWhite-browedScrub Wrens,GreyCurrawongs,CrimsonRosellas,White- throatedTree-creepersandYellow Robins.TheRufousFantailandSatinFlycatchervisitthegulliesseasonally.
Mammals:Koalasandkangaroosareoftensightedin theparkwhiletherareBrush-tailedPhascogaleisa shyresidentandseldomseen.
Howtogetthere
HepburnRegionalPark is110km north-westof MelbourneviatheWesternFreeway(M8National). FollowtheDaylesford-BallanRoadaftertakingtheexitfromthefreeway.Melwayreference527C2.
LinkedtrainandcoachservicesareavailablefromMelbournetoDaylesfordviaWoodendorBallarat. FortimetabledetailscallV/LineCountryInformation on136196.
Befirereadyandstaysafe
Manyparksandforestsarelocatedin highfireriskareas.OndaysofforecastCodeRed FireDangerthis parkwillbeclosedforpublic safety.
Ifyouarealready in the parkyou shouldleavethenight beforeorearlyinthemorningforyourown safety.
Closuresignswillbe erectedand rangerswillpatrol whenpossible,howeveryoumaynotreceivea personalwarningthattheparkisclosedso checkthelatestconditionsbycalling131963orvisit
ForuptodateinformationonfiresinVictoria orgeneralfiresafetyadvicecalltheVictorianBushfire InformationLineon1800240667.
FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformation Centreon131963 orvisitour websiteat
Drinkingwater
Be self-sufficient and carry water in, and/orknowhow tomakeuntreatedwatersafefordrinking.
Goldfields Track
LinkingBallaratandBendigo,the210km Goldfields Track provides a pathwayandcyclingtrack to CentralVictoria’shiddentreasures
– from diverse forests and spectacular views to the artefacts andculturalheritageofthegold rush.Threeinterlinkedtracks make up the Goldfields Track.
WallabyTrack(90km)-MtBuninyongSummittoDaylesford via Ballarat and Creswick
DryDiggingsTrack(60km)– Daylesfordto Castlemaine via VaughanSpringsandFryerstown
LeanganookTrack(60km)– Castlemaineto Bendigo via Mt AlexanderandtheColiban Channel
Forfurtherinformationcontact theDaylesfordVisitorInformationCentreon53216123
oldfieldsTrack
Warning-walkersshouldalways stayonthedesignatedtracksasthere aremany deepmine shaftsthroughout the park.
MobilePhones
Youmaynotbeinnetworkrangeinsomeareasofthepark.
TobeconnectedtoPolice,AmbulanceorCFA,keyin112
thenpresstheYESkey
Forfurtherinformation
Parks Victoria InformationCentre
Call131963
orvisit the
Parks Victoriawebsite
DaylesfordVisitorInformationCentre
100 VincentSt.
Daylesford3460
Tel: (03)53216123
Caringfortheenvironment
MinersRights:DepartmentofEnvironment andPrimaryIndustries InformationCentre
Level2, StateGovt. Offices
CnrMairDovetonSts
Ballarat3350
Tel: (03)53366856
8.30am-4.30pmMon-Fri
Caringfortheenvironment
Help us careforourparks by followingthese guidelines: Allnativeplants and animals are protected
Dogsmustbe keptona leash atall times
Please takeyourrubbish with youwhen youleave
Vehicles, including motor cycles, mustnotbedriven offopenformed roads
Do notdisturb orremove any historic relicsor
artefacts
Fire
Hepburn RegionalPark
is intheCentral TotalFire Ban District
Itis yourresponsibilityto know ifitisa dayof TotalFire Ban.
Ifin doubtcall the VictorianBushfire Information Line: 1800240667
Firesmay only belitinthe fireplaces provided
ParkclosuresBe preparedto leaveearly as extreme weathermay cause the closure ofsomepark areas forpublicsafety.
HealthyParksHealthyPeople
Visitingaparkcanimprove yourhealth,mind,bodyand soul.So, withoverfourmillion hectaresof parklandavailable toVictorians,whynotescape
toaparktoday!
CaringforCountry
ThroughtheirrichcultureIndigenousAustralians havebeenintrinsicallyconnected to thisCountry,fortensof thousandsofyears.
ParksVictoriarecognisesthisconnectionand acknowledgestheTraditionalOwnersandAboriginal CommunitiesofVictoria.
Black- tailedWallabies although noteasily seen, arecommon residents and
frequentthegullies ofthepark.
Pleasekeep dogs on leads atalltimes.
Thegoldendays
ThetownshipofHepburnwas namedafterCaptain JohnHepburn,oneofthefirstEuropeansettlersin thearea,whomadehishomeinSmeatonin1836. Thesurroundinghillsweredenudedbyminers followingthediscoveryofgoldatDaylesfordin1851. Thepark’sregrowthforestnowhidesthemarks leftby‘goldfever’.
Manyofthewaterracesorchannels dug bytheminersto bringwaterto theirworkingsnowformtheTipperaryWalkingTrack.
Thehillsidesare dottedwith relics,mineshaftsand rockretainingwalls.Pleaserememberthattheserelicsarefragileandunstable,soforyourown safety,andtheirprotection,stay onthewalkingtracks.
Placesofinterest
MountFranklin
MountFranklin,orLalgambook,asitisknownbytheDjadjaWurrungpeople,offersfineviewsontheapproachto thesummit.
Theshelteredcraterisanidealplaceforapicnicorbasiccamping setamongstplantingsofhugeconifers anddeciduous treesthatcreateanexoticatmosphere.
MountFranklin isafineexample ofabreached scoriacone.Thebreach,throughwhichtheroad nowentersthecrater,isthought tohavebeen causedbyaflow oflavabreaking throughthecraterrim.LavafromMountFranklinandothervolcanoesintheareafilledvalleysand buriedthegoldbearingstreamsthatbecametherenowned‘deepleads’of thegoldminingera.
TheBlowhole
Thisartificialdiversiontunnelon SailorsCreekwas built bygoldminersaroundtheearly1870s.Atunnel throughthespurwascut to redirectwaterflowfromtheoriginalcreekline.Thesoilin thedrycreekbed wasthensluicedforgold.Itisnow animpressive
sightwhenthecreekisinfullflow.Shortwalkscan beundertaken byfollowingthespurabovethetunnelorthroughthediggingsarea.
MineralSprings
Naturalmineral springsabound inthearea.TheparkhasmineralspringsatSailorsFalls,TipperarySprings,GoldenSpringsand ArgyleSprings. Adjacent to theparkaretheHepburnMineralSpringsReserveand LakeDaylesford/CentralSprings. Someofthespringshavehandpumps;othersarefreeflowingpipes.
Exploringtheregion
BuriedRiversofGoldHeritageTrail
Beneaththerollinghillsofthisdistrictarelongburiedundergroundstreams-fullof gold!Thiscarbasedtourpassestheundergroundminingoperationswhichwonwealthfor somebeyondtheirwildest dreams.BookletsareavailablefromtheCreswickHistoricalMuseumorVisitorInformation Centre.
Intheearly1880stheNewAustralasianMinewas thesiteofgreatwealthandprosperity,having tappedarichgold bearingdeeplead.Today thesiteisrememberedasbeingthe placeofAustralia’s largest goldmining disasterwhen22menlosttheirlivesunderground.
Anderson'sMill
OnthebanksofBirch’sCreekatSmeaton,thefour storeybluestoneflourmillandgroundsmakea delightfulscene.BuiltandoperatedbytheAnderson familyfrom1862to1959,itremainsanimportantlandmarkwellworthavisit.
Themillbuildingisopen12to 4pmonthefirstSundayofthemonth,whilethegroundsandpicnicareaareopenallyearround.
DaylesfordMuseumandHistoricalSociety
Openingtimesare1:30to4:30pm Saturday,Sunday,schoolandpublicholidays, locatedat100Vincent St,Daylesford.
Rufousfantail
MtBeckworthScenic
Reserve
Alonepinetreeonthegranitepeakisalandmarkacrossthedistrict. Theslopesof
MountBeckworthcontainanabundanceofnativeplantsandwildlife,especially duringtheSeptember- Octoberspringwildflowerseason.
CreswickRegionalPark
CentrallylocatedbetweenBallaratandDaylesford,thisparkembracesthe hillsonce roamedbytheartisticLindsayfamily.Todayyoucanexploretheparkonavarietyof shortandlongerwalks, picnicbythetranquilStGeorgesLakeorjustsimplyrelaxin thepeacefulpark.
June2014
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