Historical and Other Notes

The Lerderderg River (known locally as The Lerdy) is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the Western District region of the Australian state of Victoria.   Location and features The Lerderderg River rises below the Blackwood Ranges, part of the Great Dividing Range, in the Lerderderg State Forest, near the locality of Blackwood. The river flows generally south by east in a highly meandering course, through the Lerderderg Gorge within the Wombat State Forest where it is joined by two minor tributaries, The Old River and Goodman Creek, before reaching its confluence with the Werribee River within the Melton Reservoir, southeast of Bacchus Marsh. The river descends approximately 383 metres (1,257 ft) over its 40 kilometres (25 mi) course. Diversion Tunnel Photo Andrew Parker The Lerderderg River diversion tunnel, also known as "The Tunnel," is a significant historical site located on the Lerderderg River, approximately 25 km northwest of Bacchus M

  Victoria Park :  This expansive park, covering 130 hectares, is situated at the intersection of Sturt and Gillies Streets in Ballarat, Australia. Its layout has remained largely unchanged since its initial design and planting between 1890 and 1910. Originally, the land was considered a necessary public reserve, and in 1861, the Ballarat Council sought to specifically reserve it as a park. During that time, it was locally known as   “Royal Park.” Crown Grant:  In 1888, the Crown Grant officially reserved the land as   Victoria (Royal) Park , covering 325 acres. It was vested in the   Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of the City of Ballaarat   for the purpose of a public park and related facilities. Mining Interests  Despite its primary purpose as a public recreation facility, mining interests were also present within Victoria Park. Various companies explored gold within its boundaries, including the United Hand-in-Hand and Band of Hope Company. In 1866, they even sank a shaft within t

  CLICK HERE FOR AN  INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE ROUTE                                                          Steam Train at Daylesford Railway Station ABOVE : A Daylesford to Ballarat Steam Train looks like it has a bit of speed up as it has just descended the 1 in 40 down to the Jubilee Lake bridge, some well dressed walkers seem oblivious to thte trains passing. Circa 1930.  (SLV collection) Ballarat Bound! The disused platform at Wombat in 2011 Trestle Bridge just west of Wombat Newlyn, April 25 1969.  (photo courtesy Andrew Cook) A lengthy Daylesford bound train mixed passenger and freight pauses at Allendale, 1922.  (courtesy Frank Wright) Kingston circa 1930.  (from PROV collection) Researched and compiled by Andrew Parker 2024

SOURCE: MELBOURNE WATER Some Maribyrnong River History Maribyrnong River’s name comes from the Aboriginal phrase  Mirring-gnay-bir-nong , meaning ‘I can hear a ringtail possum’. It was originally called Saltwater River due to the seawater that entered from Hobson’s Bay, into which it directly flowed. The Wurundjeri people have always had a deep connection to the area. The river was of great importance and used for a variety of purposes: drinking water building material  transport medicine – including edible plants that grew on the river flats food – fish and eels thrived in the river, and big game like kangaroos and emus lived on the plains, along with smaller animals like echidnas, possums, lizards and water birds. In 1857 Victoria’s first irrigator, David Milburn, settled in the area. He developed a way to draw water from the river using a hand pump, and grew fruit and vegetables to sell to diggers travelling to the goldfields. This was the start of Keilor’s market gardening traditio