327. Leanganook Track - Castlemaine to Expedition Pass 10.5km

 U3A Hike No 327









Hike Report By Fiona Deutscher

Today’s hike explored the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park including the Garfield Mining area and the historic ruins at Welsh Village.

Gold was first discovered by Europeans in the Castlemaine area at Specimen Gully in 1851 & triggered a gold rush to the area. The well-preserved mining relics that still remain today have contributed to it becoming Australia’s first National Heritage Park.

Eleven walkers commenced the hike today in sunny conditions from Castlemaine township. Quite  soon we passed by the Burke &. Wills memorial land mark- commemorating the crossing of the Australian continent. The next few kilometres took us along unmade roads & paths of the Leanganook track, passing several groups of kangaroos & walking amongst colourful flowering wattles & wildflowers.

The track diverged through a pine plantation where we stopped for morning tea. After this we wound our way up through the box eucalypt forest until we entered the reef workings in the Garfield Mining area. We observed the mullock heaps, deep mine shafts, adits & some brick foundations associated with mining activity.

We were impressed as we approached the massive foundations of the once 21.5m diameter Garfield Water Wheel. This water wheel was used to power the crushing battery to extract gold from the quartz rock. It superseded the steam powered machinery which had previously denuded the surrounding forest of wood for its fuel supply. A water race running from a reservoir at Expedition Pass supplied & delivered the water to the Water Wheel. The Garfield wheel operated from 1887-1904.

On the way to the historic Welsh village circuit we climbed about the hills & passed by some slate mining quarries. We admired the large blocks of broken slate at the foot of the impressive cliffs & stony embankments.

The relics of the Welsh gold mining settlement included those from crushing works, miners houses & storerooms. There was also evidence of gardens terraces & mullock heaps. It was fascinating to gain an insight into the area & possible living conditions of the miners who lived there during that time.

The last leg of the hike passed by the ruins of the Welsh village bridge -before crossing the road & walking along the Forest Creek Road to the wall of the Expedition Pass Reservoir. We enjoyed our picnic lunch at the reservoir at the end of the hike.

Photos By Andrew Parker




































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