Iron Mine Walk, Lal Lal - Bungal Historic Area Circuit

Iron Mine Walk, Lal Lal - Bungal Historic Area Circuit - 10.2 Kms

March 20, 2023

U3A Hike No. 239

Hike Report by Dick

A group of 18 walkers met at the Buninyong tennis courts on Thursday 16th of March at 7.40 and headed off to the iron mine walk near the Lal Lal Reservoir.

The temperature was a pleasant 13 degrees and rose to 22 by midday when we completed our walk and had lunch in the peaceful environment.

After an introduction by Andrew and reminders about how to drive in a convoy, which basically means that you must follow the car behind you, or not quite, but keep in contact with them and drive with your lights on. This is very wise advice which we followed as we headed into stringybark bush of the Lal Lal State Forest. The pulverized dust on the road, resembling talcum powder, meant that it was very difficult to lose the car in front of us because there was a white cloud of dust to follow and very difficult to see the car behind us because of a white cloud of dust that followed us that obscured all vision. Many thanks to the generous drivers and we hope that your once clean cars can be restored.

We arrived at the destination on Andersons Road after meeting up at the Lal Lal pub and continuing in convoy to the starting point on the corner of Chalkmine Road and Anderson Road.

About six of the 18 walkers had not been to the mine before, the others who had been on this route had completed it in a clockwise direction but this time we were going the reverse way.

After leaving the cars we headed south along Andersons Road for some two kilometres and then swung back and headed in a northerly direction until we passed by Champion Hill and then onto Ironmine Road.

Andrew was the front and Jan at the rear and the rest of us were pleased to see good solid bush tracks that were easy on knees and pulse rates. They were only one or two hills that we noticed as hills and these can be identified by the level of talking which seems to reduce for some of us.

The state forest, after an abundant and wet spring, was beginning to show signs of the recent long dry period. As we approached the lower parts of the walk and towards the mine the vegetation seemed to be far healthier than the first section of the walk.

Although the area to the east is heavily dissected with streams running to the Western branch of the Moorabool river we were able to stick the ridges and did not lose too much altitude. We were at an altitude of about 520 metres which provided some views to the west. The nearby river was at about 390 metres and so we were pleased to maintain the well chosen route that avoided the steep descent to the river.

When we reached the historic mine which was set up in 1878 we had a welcome break and cup of tea before exploring the main site and the historic blast furnace which is truly quite amazing. Although not well known it is one of Australia’s most significant industrial historic sites where the coal is locally sourced and the iron ore was locally sourced and the finished product, pig iron, was used in Ballarat for the developing heavy industry that had sprung up because of the goldmines.

The blast furnace, still in very good condition given its age, is central to the busy worksite that was once there and employing 160 people at what appears to now be a remote and isolated location. The men received a wage of about three pounds a week which was about three times higher than standard wages of the period. This is not unlike our iron ore mines today.

One had to marvel at the engineering feat and the sheer strength of horse and manpower to move the iron ore from the nearby mine to the furnace and then the finished product up a long tram track to the railway system and back into Ballarat.

As we headed south and towards the cars we came across the small grave of a six year old girl, Mary Paterson, who died at the remote location in 1867. Indeed it is a poignant reminder of the difficulties that the early settlers, and their families, and their children faced on a daily basis.

I think this walk was a wonderful example of how we combine exercise, nature and the wonderful history of Ballarat. We appreciate the work and the navigation of our leaders and the companionship of the walkers who enjoy the strenuous exercise and the beauty of the environment.

This would be a very good 10 km walk for you and your friends on a weekend outing and should you wish to do so I am sure you can find the map of the walk on the wonderful website.