283. Rifle Range - Cherry Ballart Walk 8.6km + End of Year Lunch

December 21, 2023

Hike report by Mark

Woowookarung – ‘Place of Plenty’ – Wadawurrang People

What a great way to end the U3A Hikers year – walking and eating! Firstly the large group met early at Andrew’s place to set lunch arrangements in motion then convoyed to the start of the Dementia Friendly Trail in the Woowookarung Regional Park. A perfect cloudy warm day and 8.6km of dry tracks awaited us.

A km or so found us the long range target end of the now derelict Canadian Rifle Range where we explored the ruins of the once impressive targets now very overgrown by gorse. Hike leader Andrew read some historical notes about some of the less impressive target shooting, for example a bullet that ricocheted off a local lady’s sewing machine as she worked on it. (read the newspaper report and other info in the Notes link after photos)

Onwards past Pax Hill Scout Camp the walk joined the newly created Cherry Ballart Loop Walk. The Cherry Ballart is a hemiparsitic tree which grows on the roots of mainly Eucalyptus trees and cannot be propagated outside its usual natural environment. This led to the Fern Walk –along a fern gully which is uncommon around Ballarat.
Rounding the top end of the course and heading for the finish line we completed the Fern and Cherry Ballart loops then explored the short range target area of the Rifle Range. Here we heard about some of the attempts to develop the area, some of which could happen but many problems are thrown up by the soil lead levels from the rifle range. As we walked along the range through the gorse we also heard about painter/decorator Thomas Haymes who was mortally wounded by person unknown.

By now only a short walk remained to the cars and lunch. And an excellent affair it was too thanks Andrew and Ingrid! Plus musical entertainment, some speeches and thank-yous mixed with good company.

Good walk thanks Andrew!