Buninyong Lanes Circuit - 11 Kms

  U3A Hike No. 166

Hike Report by Martin

The leadership team: Mark (as Hike Leader), supported by Andrew and Gordon as whip.

As we emerge from the isolation of countless lockdowns, a large number of eager bush pedestrians gathered near the Buninyong Tennis Centre in Forest Street.  After the traditional pre-hike briefing and safety talk - from Andrew – Mark, our intrepid and newly minted hike leader turned to the east and headed off along Forest Street and as obedient hikers, we followed.

Turning south at Fisken Street we continued on, across the Midland Highway, cautious of traffic; continuing south until we reached the Goldfields Track.  Once on the Goldfields Track, we found ourselves passing - or in close proximately to - some of Buninyong’s historical features.  Nestled beside the track is the old Buninyong Brewery, and just over Cornish Street, the Buninyong Butter Factory and original Police Station – now within the grounds of the primary school.

The Goldfields Track continued through the lovely botanical gardens with the historical bowling club on the left and the picnic grounds to the right.  As we passed through a heavily treed section, Dick identified a tree that had been totally ringbarked many years ago and had been skilfully repaired by an arborist.  The arborist carefully removed small sections of bark from other parts of the tree and painstakingly grafted them into the gaping wounds, created by the violent act of ringbarking.  This act of kindness enabled the grand old tree to not only survive but the thrive.

We continued on out of the gardens, over Inglis Street and along Scott Street where the present-day police station is located.  Around the corner, turning north at Warrenheip Street where a strategically place mannequin lurked behind the shrubs (see the video).  Now in Warrenheip Street we travelled north, past the original old historic bank, through the centre of Buninyong’s commercial/retail area and on to De Soza Park.

A lovely stroll west along De Soza Park’s walking path for some 800 metres or so, with the Union Jack Creek on our right, we arrived and crossed over a bridge to find ourselves at Lumeah Road.  A short break for costume adjustment and a drink, before the first hill.  Northward up Lumeah Road towards Hitchcock Road – uphill all the way.  From here we continued north along a walking track, which ran adjacent to the Buninyong Bushland Reserve, emerging onto Eddy Avenue, passing Ballarat Bird World and onto Moss Avenue; where we had an important reminder from Andrew about walking safely along a busy link road.

After a short distance traveling west, we arrived at Bergs Lane and continued on, uphill again, past the Mt Helen Cattery and numerous rural property settlings, past Monza Park, a dirt bike racing track, eventually arriving at Hiscock Gully Road.  Travelling south a short distance we arrived at a heavily treed area and stopped for a spot of morning tea.

Refreshed and rested, we continued south along Hiscock Gully Road a short distance to the historic marker that marked the site of Buninyong’s first gold discovery by the blacksmith Thomas Hiscock in 1851.  This discovery eventually led to the rush for gold in the district.  If you want to know more, sign up for Doug Bradby’s U3A “New “Chums” course next year. Highly recommended.

We continued south along Hiscock Gully Road until we reached the Midland Highway and, after a quick traffic safety briefing, we turned left and headed in a south east direction towards Buninyong for approximately 250 metres to Moss Avenue, then left up Moss for about 20 metres and back onto Hitchcock Road, which we continued along, passing many nicely placed rural properties in idyllic settings, until we returned to the north end of Lumeah Road.

Downhill from here (YEAH) we retraced our steps back south to the walking path in De Soza Park and retracing our way back into Buninyong through the park, but this time on the north side of Union Jack Creek - stopping for a group photo on the bridge midway along.  Over Warrenheip Street and back along Forest Street to our original start point at the Buninyong Tennis Centre.

This fabulous walk was finished off with a relaxing cuppa and great fellowship in the BBQ area at the back of the Buninyong Men’s Shed, set on the platform/site of the old Buninyong Railway Station.

Thank you to Andrew for organising and Mark for his exceptional leadership and navigational skills, and of course Gordon for not losing anyone.

Photos by Andrew





















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