356. Woodlands Historic Park- 12.9km

 U3A Hike # 356




Hike Report by Mark Hawley

Whenever a month has five Thursdays - it means one thing for U3A Ballarat Hikers… Melbourne excursion.

The start for we ten Hikers was at Woodlands Historic Park next to the northern edge of Tullamarine Airport. Also next to impressive horse paddocks with equally impressive horses grazing in them.

 The walk headed initially northeast then mainly south through open rocky scrubland to a long fence line. This was built to protect the Eastern Barred Bandicoot which was considered extinct until a colony was discovered at a rubbish tip near Hamilton. The fence forms an elongated enclosure of several kilometres with wire angled out at the top and ground levels to keep out predators. However, the occasional gate meant we could enter it when required.

 A long walk along the outside of the fence took us to Weeroona Cemetery where we explored the mainly Aboriginal graves and cultural area before continuing onwards to Gellibrand Hill with the ruins of Dundonald Homestead.

 Great 360-degree views from the hill taking in the Airport and Melbourne city plus the Ranges to the north.

 Next we headed west into the Bandicoot Reserve. No sightings of bandicoots unfortunately as they are nocturnal, - but more kangaroos did greet us.  This took us to more ruins, this time Cumberland Ruins close enough to the airport to smell the typical jet fuel aroma(?) of airports.

 On the walk back we discovered the bandicoot area also imprisons humans but eventually we got back to Woodlands Historic Homestead and felt right at home visiting the Living Legends display after lunch.

 Great walk thanks Gordon!


Photos By Andrew Parker














































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THIS HIKE IN 2023 (with Mark Bevelander's beautiful photos)

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