Bunny Hop Hike and End of Year Breakup

U3A Hike No. 131

A combined hike report from Martin Russell and Joan Brick

Our biggest turnout for the year saw thirty-two hikers start the last hike of 2020, referred to as the Bunny Hop. Commencing at around 7.45am we left our meeting point in Valley Drive and hiked south along the eastern side of the Canadian Creek, with the Harry Lavery Bushland Reserve on our left. Well shaded by trees and in the cool of the early morning, this section of the walk was a very pleasant way to begin our exploration of Ballarat hidden urban secrets.

The “Bunny Hop” is a dance that is done in America at weddings and festive occasions, so, this being Christmas and our last time together, Joan B was excited at the prospect of us being tutored with some bunny hop movements by Andrew at the beginning of our hike and then literally hopping down the Bunny Trail. Well…that wasn’t the case so instead Andrew took us on an adventure “walking the line” of the Bunny Trail which was the railway line that ran between Ballarat and Buninyong. It was six miles and fifty chains long (10.15km) and a holiday was called to mark its opening in 1889. It carried passengers and goods between the two towns, although the passenger service was discontinued in 1931 and the goods services closed in 1947. While the old sleepers and posts are past their prime, they still paint a good picture of what it must have been like in its heyday. Leaving Recreation Rd we were led onto what was clearly the bed of the old tracks and Andrew explained that the land we were on was owned by the Education Department but was in the process of being transferred to the City of Ballarat to become part of the new walking route. To enable the track to connect into Woowookarung Regional Park a small section crosses private property but the owners are agreeable in making this area accessible to the public.

Heading north we picked up the track on the western side Woowookarung Regional Park and continued north with urban Mt Clear on our left and Woowookarung on our right. The track traced alongside the railway’s path and the boundaries of numerous properties.

It was lovely to look ahead and see all of us together again chattering away and enjoying each other’s company. One item that some of us noticed along the way was an interesting mailbox that was an old metal chest with a scene on top that depicted an old house, a man looking for gold and a man fishing.

A short diversion at Lavery Street, Andrew guided the group to an area at the side of a property that still had the depression of a 'Horse Puddler'

MOUNT CLEAR HORSE PUDDLER - History - The first era of gold mining in the area (Canadian Gully along the White Horse Range to Mount Clear) was from 1851 to 1852 where at the peak of the gold mining there were 20,000 diggers working the shallow alluvial deposits.A figure in the landscape of gold mining was the horse puddler, a donut shaped structure dug into the ground, usually 7 metre in diameter with a hole in the centre about 1 metre wide. The centre was built up and had a large wooden pole erected vertically and another wooden pole that was horizontal which attached to a metal rake. A horse was harnessed to the rake which, was designed to rake and break up the gold bearing dirt and, walked around the outside of the puddler (Gold Net Australia 2011).

This photo is believed to be of the actual horse puddler we visited!

Retracing our steps back to the track we eventually found ourselves at the eastern most section of Hocking Avenue, moving west back into suburbia.

After navigating our way north through the urban streets, we found ourselves hiking along Davies Street, passing Soap’s Dam. It was in the vicinity of one of the factories, Ballarat Memorials, that the old railway crossed Elsworth Street, where just on the other side sat Butt Station (or Canadian - depending on which map you look at). Andrew noted that the Ballarat Rifle range site was selected because it we well within walking distance along Elsworth Street, from Butt/Canadian Station.

Another item of interest was “The Green Wall” which used a variety of metal containers to construct a type a fence for the business. The trail led us to some other interesting remnants of the rail line such as “the last post”, old rail tracks and wheels from goods carriages. We stopped for a morning tea break and with the way we were seated one would think we were waiting for the train!

Our next stop was York St where we saw where one of the stations for this line use to be. We also found some interesting information regarding York Street being known in days gone by as the “Red Light district!

Our journey took us around lovely Lake Esmond and onto the interesting Canadian Creek trail via Brogden Court. Continuing south along the track though the Mecure Convention Centre complex passing the Day Spa, which some were tempted to try.

Andrew pointed out remnants of an old cyanide tank and Gordon explained this would have been used to get the small traces of gold that is found after crushing the rocks and exposing the slurry that results to cyanide. He also mentioned that soil testing in what was thought a safe area around the old tank still showed levels of cyanide.

From here we were on the home stretch and ready for the feast that Ingrid and others had helped to prepare for the hungry hikers. We enjoyed the journey BUT the highlight was the destination….the Parkers Porch with good food, good music and definitely good company. Janet presented well deserved expressions of gratitude to Andrew and Ingrid, Gordon, Tim and Theresa for their assistance in making 2020 a memorable experience for all members of the club.

Many thanks to Andrew, Gordon and Tim for their work planning and leading the hikes during a year of challenge and, finally, thankyou to everyone who participated throughout the year. Without your company these hikes would not be the same.

Wishing all a very Happy and Safe Holiday Season! Let the good times roll in 2021!

Links for Historical Photos and notes as well as maps etc after the photos