Brandy Creek Mine to Cobungra River
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Dinner Plain Track Notes Brandy Creek Mine to Cobungra River With discoveries of gold in Omeo and on the Upper Ovens from 1852, more adventurous prospectors would 13km one way (4 hours), Grade 3 Walking Track have taken the shortest possible route over Mt. Hotham. A lovely natural environment and rich gold history are It is likely that many of these initial prospectors and min- the twin rewards offered by this interesting walk. With- ers followed ancient routes used by Aboriginal people in the Alpine National Park, it follows a disused vehicle over the Great Dividing Range. track, past the remnants of the long-abandoned Brandy Creek gold mine and down to the delightful flats of the Cobungra River. The Cobungra rises below Mt. Hotham and flows into the Mitta Mitta (a tributary of the Murray River) near Anglers Rest. Start from the Cobungra Ditch South trail head, reached 5.5 km along the Great Alpine Road from Dinner Plain Village heading towards Mt. Hotham. After 500 metres, the track reaches a junction. To the left is the Cobungra Ditch Walking Track. Straight ahead is the Brandy Creek Mine to Cobungra River track. One hundred metres to the right of the track, the extensive works of what was once the sluicing pit of the Brandy Creek Gold Mine can be viewed from above. Continue the descent to the Cobungra River through light Snow Gum woodlands Hydraulic Sluicing - Illustration Andrew Swift and fields of native daisies and alpine grasses to the Brandy Creek Mine river flats – a great place for a picnic lunch and a swim on The Brandy Creek deep lead deposits were first worked a hot day. Return by the same route. in the late 1860s with the principal workings known as White’s Claim. Over the years, the claim changed hands several times and adjacent claims were taken up. One of the richest was the Italian’s claim - one clean-up alone in February 1884 was reputed to have produced 900 ounc- es of gold. Operations on the Brandy Creek lead peaked in the 1880s when the majority of the hillside claims were taken over by the Cobungra Gold Mining Company (GMCo). Although the Cobungra GMCo invested heavily in the mine with the construction of the long Ditch and all the latest mining appliances, their success appears to have been limited. During the early 1900s the mine was worked intermittently with the last significant efforts to mine the lead during the 1920s and early 1930s. Several attempts to rework the mine in subsequent years were Everlasting Daisy - Image courtesy Parks Victoria unsuccessful. The main pit is a remnant of the hydraulic Gold History sluicing operations; however the lead was also worked Ancient river systems, buried for millions of years be- by surface or ground sluicing and tunnelling. Total gold neath the basalt cap of the High Plains, were worked for production from the Brandy Creek deep lead was not of- gold deposits from the 1860s. This ancient gold-bearing ficially recorded, however the following account gives a river system extended from Mt. Fainter and the Bogong fair estimate: High Plains in the north to the Dargo High Plains in the “During its entire career of working, this placer [alluvial south. Exploration of this region of the Alps was largely claim] has worked an area of about 20 acres, yielded some mining-led, by both parties of prospectors and govern- 25,000 to 30,000 ounces of gold at depths ranging from ment exploration parties. surface to 100 feet.” Alpine Observer, 8th December 1899. Dinner Plain Village Be Prepared Brandy Creek Mine to Cobungra River The best months for walking in the alpine environment are from November through to April, however, weather condi- tions can change rapidly, and snowfalls and blizzards can Grade of Walk: Grade 3, as per The Australian Walking occur at any time of the year. (The Bushwalking Season is from Track Grading System the November Melbourne Cup Weekend to mid May.) Distance: 3km one way Time: 1.5 hours one way Be prepared with: Gradient: Mostly level with steep sections on • Wind and waterproof jackets approach to the river • Warm clothing – hat, gloves, sunglasses, and strong Quality of Path: Mostly formed track, with some footwear obstacles • Food and water Steps: Occasional steps • First aid kit and sunscreen Experience required: Some bushwalking experience • Map and compass recommended • Check the weather forecast before departing • Let someone know where you are going For more information on Dinner Plains Tracks & Trails, visit • Mobile phone (reception in some areas) www.visitdinnerplain.com.au. Caution Bushfires have damaged snowgums, which are now re- generating but dead branches are shedding with the new growth. High wind days may result in falling limbs and branches. It is not recommended to use the track on windy days. Please be aware that snakes are active during warm months. S w in d ler ’s Ck l a t F 1400 1300 1300 1500 Mt Hotham Alpine Resort BRANDY CREEK MINE TO 1300 F l F a COBUNGRA RIVER t l a Alpine National Park t k 1400 e e 1400 r F C l a t s ’ 1300 y P P h 1400 u r p r M pu l S i rk r a a T 1300 P k P Wire Plain C e e 1600 C r e 1300 o i r o b Alpine F C b u u n National k y n g r a R i g Park e d v e r 1600 r e a r n D C a i 1400 t c y r h d 1400 Mt Hotham B Whiskey 1300 n W a Alpine Resort Flat r a B l k B500 1300 i n g 1300 P T h r t a 1300 r 1400 c 1500 o k N G Brandy 1400 R c ti E Creek Mine e A COBUNGRA Management n T DITCH WALK Alpine g Gate a A National 1500 M L 1400 Park P P i B I N r a E Brandy Creek Picnic Area b r 0 1km 2km a R Dinner Plain Room with a View l 1300 u O 1400 n 1500 A Village Walking Track g S C A 1400 D L E ( 5.5km H o t 1500 1700 h a Alpine m - National State 1600 D in Park Forest n Alpine e Dead r P Timber National la 1500 D in Hill e Park ) ad Ti T mber H r ill Wal o Loo a king Trac M ntane p i k Pond T l 1500 g rack 1600 in (S lk e Forest Walks a c Paw Paw Plain CRB Hut W t 1400 trailhead e G i 1500 Dinner Plain Village - Alpine Shire E R an R o I N O A D nt E n P l Crisps Hut o A 1 Elevated Mother Johnson Flat L r Plain Trai M T ) A ne Winter Resort Entry T Hoth in A Walkway 1600 A am D Seasonal Pumice E - L R Gate B500 Hill P G I N P JB Plain E 1400 i C Fitzy’s Cirque R Hut o O P B500 l l A 1600 e D c i P t o Freehold r s DINNER PLAIN D C i r q u e Slippery Pinch Alpine i n K VILLAGE lain n B P C Freehold Hotham - Dinner Plain Trail J National e Lightning Flat A r Flourbag Plain R Park P Alpine T Management l G a Gate National N I i K n 1500 1500 Park L A C W P P k O T 1600 r E CARMICHAEL L e 1500 B 1500 A c FALLS WALK T M M T i p Carmichael o D ) n i i t 2 c Falls a n e n V 1400 1400 n e n C e W o i i t r a e r c l c 1500 e k k P e i t 1300 n l g o S a ( T i r r k n a i c a c k k r 1400 a e R e 1500 T i v ( r e S r r T C e a ct w i g c o a n n 3 i P 1400 1300 k ) k w l a P R a P 1400 E C I State W P I 1500 C e Forest 1400 Ta b l e E n t o p 1300 C P P ta r e r L n e k e A o c 1300 I 1300 i N M p i W c 1400 A 1300 e L K C 1400 r e e k 1300 1400 1500 1400 Mt Tabletop (Square Mount) PRECIPICE PLAIN LOOKOUT 1500 1500 State Forest Freehold.