Harrietville Tracks & Trails

Harrietville Tracks & Trails Harrietville Tracks & Trails Harrietville Tracks & Trails Harrietville Tracks & Trails c1914. cutters, track Mt Feathertop collection Museums Harrietville Tracks & Trails Harrietville Tracks & Trails Walker Safety - Checklist

• Let someone know where you are going, your route, and estimated return time. Charlie Miley • Check weather conditions before you leave. • Wear appropriate clothing. • Wear strong footwear. • Carry water and some snacks. • Stay on the track. Tronoh Dredge Holes • Be Sun Smart, wear a hat, long-sleeve shirt, sunglasses and sunscreen. • A small first aid kit can come in handy. Harrietville to Bright In an emergency dial 000 (Triple Zero) for police, fire and ambulance

The Harrietville Track & Trail network is a staged Riverside Walk Harrietville community project. The crown Wodonga land reserves and its walking track network are Wangaratta maintained by volunteers form the Harrietville y a G Community Forum and the Tronoh Reserve w re e Bright at e A Committee of Management. Working closely r Harrietville lp F in Big Mill Mt Hotham e Seymour with Department of Environment, Land, Water and e Dinner Plain R o m a Planning, Parks Victoria, North East Catchment d u

Management Authority, Alpine H Resort Management Board, Tourism North East Bungalow Spur and . @visitharrietville This guide has been produced by the Harrietville East Branch Community Forum made possible with funds from the Into Our Hands Community Foundation. Investing in initiatives that build community capacity, resilience and sustainability. Bon Accord Spur

www.visitharrietville.com.au

Bright - 18km Stony Creek Wangaratta - 104km Trout Farm

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w a p Map updated A Swift November 2016 a T thousands of years aboriginals travelled to the high plains for trading, t C P Mount M r e hunting and ceremonial purposes. With the discovery of gold in 1852, w e a Tabletop ess Creek k gold miners followed their tracks, crossingC obetweennn the Ovens and P Gippsland goldfields. Some of these routes then became stock routes for cattle accessing the plains. From the 1880s, both winter and summer tourists began to appreciate the natural values of the high country, with many of these earlier tracks becoming bushwalking tracks and trails.

Today, Harrietville offers many opportunities to explore a diverse and vibrant ecological landscape, a landscape that is also intimately connected to the unique human history of the area. From Traditional Owners, gold miners, cattle graziers and even pioneering tourists, all relied upon, and had special connections to this environment.

Bungalow Spur walking track cutters, c1906. Harrietville Historical Society collection

Alpine National Park - Hikes from Harrietville Harrietville is a great starting point to access a number of hikes into the , Victoria’s largest national park. Several walking tracks access Mt Feathertop, Victoria’s second highest mountain and one of the most popular alpine walking tracks in the State.

Bungalow Spur Walking Track to Mt Feathertop Distance: 22km return, duration 8hrs approx. Grade 4, bushwalking experience required. Formed, very steep track with some obstacles. Sign posted. This track steeply ascends Bungalow Spur, accessing a number of routes into the alpine region, including , the Razorback Ridge and Mt Hotham.

Washington Ck / Bon Accord Spur Walking Tk Distance: 24km return. Grade 2 & 4, some bushwalking experience required. Formed very steep track with some obstacles. Sign posted. The first section of the Bon Accord to Washington Ck (Grade 2, 4.7km one way), contours high above the East Branch of the Ovens River, along the course of an old mining water race. A pleasant walk with great views of the river and an ideal spot to pack your lunch. From Washington Ck the track steeply climbs Bon Accord Spur, accessing a number of routes into the alpine region, including Razorback Ridge, Mt Hotham, and Mt Feathertop.

North West Spur Track to Mt Feathertop Distance 18km return. Grade 4, bushwalking and navigation experience required. Rough, not well-defined, very steep track with obstacles. Limited Signage. This less frequently used route to Mt Feathertop is rough and steep in places. Starting at Stony Creek, near the Trout Farm, cross the bridge and park vehicle. The domed MUMC Hut is 7km from the start of the walk. From here it is 2km to the summit of Feathertop.

Bright - 22km Mount Beauty - 40km Wangaratta - 100km Albury -125km HarrietvilleAlpine National Harrietville to Bright Shared Trail (Stage 1) Tracks & TrailsPark Stony Creek 6 Legend 6 Trailhead /Track Information Picnic table 0 & Trout Farm - 5km 6 40 Walking Tracks WF01 BBQ Primary Track Marker Post 6 School 20 Harrietville to Bright Playground 6 Interpretive Sign Freehold 0 Shared Trail Hotel 0 (Private Property) 5 Historic Site Toilets 8 Tronoh Dredge Hole Walks 5 0 5 5

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Township and Surrounds Harrietville has a host of walking tracks around the township that offer locals and visitors a glimpse into the history and nature of the area. Trailhead information shelters at the beginning of each main track net- work provided more detail on walks, whilst interpretive signs highlight points of interest along the way.

Tronoh Lake Reserve Walking Tracks Short distances. Grade 2, no bushwalking experience required. Well formed with some steps. Clearly sign posted. A series of short walking tracks are found within the Reserve, weaving through native bush along the East Branch of the Ovens River and around the dredge holes. Many historic and natural features can be found within the reserve, some of which have been highlighted by interpretive signs. Dredge Hole Loop: Beginning at the Tronoh Dredge Hole car park, this loop is a pleasant stroll around the ponds left by the mammoth Tronoh dredge. There are several spots to picnic and a pleasant fern-filled gully crossing Simmons Creek. This loop also links with Hance’s Mine Tk, the East Ovens River Tk, and Landmates Levee Wall Track.

Hance’s Mine: A deep lead alluvial mine re-opened by Mr. Don Hance during the 1970s and 1980s. The workings mined gold-bearing alluvial gravels not able to be accessed by the bucket dredges. Landmates Levee Wall Track: An earth bank constructed by the Tronoh Company to divert the course of the East Branch of the Ovens River as part of the preparatory works associated with the Tronoh bucket dredge during the 1940s.

Riverside Walk Short Distance: 0.5km, 15 minutes return. Long Distance: 1.6km, 45 minutes return. Grade 2, no bushwalking experience required. Well-formed track with no steps. Clearly sign posted. Start at Pioneer Park. For a short loop walk south along the East Branch of the Ovens River to Feathertop Lane. Turn right and continue to the and then turn right again back to Pioneer Park. For a longer loop continue along the Ovens River to Bon Accord Track. This walk hugs the lower section of the East Branch of the Ovens River and the start of the Bon Accord Walking Track. One of the many features is the site of an early Chinese mining settlement where as upwards of 100 men lived and worked gold deposits along the river for several decades from the 1860s.

Charlie Miley Short Distance: 0.5km, time: 15 minutes return. Long Distance: 1.6km, time: 45 minutes return. Grade 2, no bushwalking experience required. Well-formed track with no steps. Clearly sign posted. This track is named for local world champion axeman, Charlie Miley. Following the West Branch of the Ovens River, the track passes early shallow alluvial workings of the Chinese miners. Thence over river flats later worked by hydraulic sluicing and bucket dredging. A short detour visits the site of a small waterwheel driven battery site operated by gold miner Henry Wraith during the early 1900s.

East Branch Ovens River Track Distance: 2.2km, return via the same route. Grade 3, bushwalking skills required. Summer, low-water level times only. River crossings. This track follows the course of a management vehicles track, along the East Branch of the Ovens River. The river track finishes at the base of Champion Spur. The track has many river crossings and is prone to seasonal flood damage. Do not attempt to use this track if the river levels are high and water is moving swiftly!

Harrietville Shared Trail Distance: 10km return, 2 hours Grade 1, no bushwalking experience required. Sealed track with gentle hills and no steps. Clearly sign posted. The fully sealed track is suitable for walkers and cyclists of all abilities. Ride or walk this sealed track from Pioneer Park to Stony Creek, right by the local trout farm. The trail heads north, down the valley taking in farm and river views. Numerous spots to stop along the way and enjoy the beauty of the Upper Ovens Valley.