Iron Mine Walk, Lal Lal-Bungal Historic Area Circuit

Iron Mine Walk, Lal Lal-Bungal Historic Area Circuit - 10.6 Kms

May 19, 2022

U3A Hike No. 197

Hike Report by Mark H

Iron mine, goldmines, even a Chalkmine Road! The 11 U3A Hikers who attended will need to wait for another day to see if there really is a chalkmine but we certainly saw the remains of the Iron Mine and many goldmines.

On a cold cloudy morning we parked along Andersons Road and started the walk northwards eventually along Chalkmine Road. Soon we reached the Shepherd Daughter’s Grave. Buried here is six year old Mary Patterson. The grave is in remarkably good condition considering it dates back to July 1867 (or possibly 1863 or 1869 according to recent research). Local residents help maintain the grave. Mary probably died of pneumonia in cold wet conditions and the river prevented a doctor attending in time to help. It gives an insight into the hardships of life in those times.

Onwards north the hike reached the Lal Lal Reservoir with the Bungal Dam holding back (we hope!) the Moorabool River. Restrooms here provided relief for some. Nearby are the old workings of the Victoria Iron Company’s iron mine, later to be owned by the Lal Lal Iron Mining Company. This was the only iron mine in Victoria’s history and in its most productive year of 1884 1600 tons of iron ore was smelted and 800 tons of pig iron produced. This was later worked in foundries like Phoenix in Ballarat to produce products including the fences round Ballarat’s St Patrick's Cathedral and the old Cemetery. One of its particular qualities made it ideal for the shoes of stamping batteries. The smelting was done in the nearby blast furnace which stands remarkably well preserved considering there is only space where all the support buildings stood. It is now declared as a historical site so hopefully its impressive size and shape can remain as well as the story of Victoria’s only venture into this industry. It also provided an ideal spot for morning tea.

The undulating hike paths now gave way to some more cardiac and pulmonary challenging hills. Dotted along the way were numerous mullock heaps, mineshafts and adits from old gold mining enterprises.

Those of you who like your wildflowers and fungi take note – the wildflowers are back and the fungi plentiful and varied. Throw in occasional areas of grass trees through the lightly treed State Forest past Champion Hill, back up Andersons Rd to the cars. By then coffee, a feed and a chit-chat were welcome.

The tracks were mainly clay/gravel with just enough dampness to settle the dust without getting slippery. Wide tracks offered plenty of opportunity to catch up with a chat and gossip with others in the group as we enjoyed an invigorating and educational hike.

Thanks Andrew – yet another excellent walk.