336. Cosgrave Reservoir - Goldfields Track Circuit 10km - Creswick State Forest

 U3A Hike No 336






Hike Report By Myra Trudgen

Fourteen hikers began the walk near the Cosgrave Reservoir on a calm, still morning with a light cloud cover. 

The first part of the walk was through heavily mined bush country. Many of the trees had been devastated by a violent storm about 5 years ago, and were uprooted and dead. However, we soon walked into less damaged territory although  obvious and interesting signs of mining remained.

We came across the breached Eatons Dam early in the walk and Andrew read a report from a local newspaper dated 15th March 1904, relating the story of a young girl who rescued two people from drowning in the dam. (see the link to this and more about Eatons Dam after the photos)

The bush paths were generally well-marked  and part of the walk was on gravel roads, although at one point Mark led us into thick bush where there was some little difficulty in making our way around the fallen trees. All part of the fun.

The area has recently been provided with tracks for the newly created Creswick mountain bike trails called “Djuwang Baring”, (meaning ‘long track’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language.) although they were little used whilst we were there. 

On the way we visited the site of the slab hut where W. G. Spence, the unionist and  parliamentarian, lived as a boy,  although absolutely no sign of it was left, not even remnant footings. It appears his unionism may have been fueled by witnessing the Eureka uprising in 1854.

Some of the early spring flowers that we have seen on earlier walks have disappeared with the advancing season, but the Cassinia's (common cassinia) were still in full flower.

Towards the end of the walk, the sun penetrated the cloud cover and it became quite warm, so the sight of the Cosgrave Reservoir and the thought of lunch was quite welcome! 

Thank you Mark and Andrew for leading this lovely walk, and to Gordon for being whip.

Photos By Andrew Parker


























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