Off Commercial Rd, East Morwell Tel. (03) 5135 3415 Open daily tours at l lam and 2pm (night tours also available)
The Latrobe Valley has one of the worlds largest coal deposits. Lookouts at Yallourn and Miners Rest give an initial impression of the awesome open cut mines, power generating plants and massive earth moving equipment. Guided tours provide Victorias best industrial tourism experience.
For more than 30 years Bass Strait has been Australias premier oil and gas production area, supplying the nation with more than three billion barrels of oil and over three trillion cubic feet of gas.
The Bass Strait oil and gas production story is a tribute to the ingenuity and perseverance of people determined not to be beaten by one of the harshest environments in the world.
GIPPSLAND RAIL TRAILS
Tracks along discontinued rail corridors in various parts of Gippsland
The Walhalla Goldfields Railway operates tourist trains through the spectacular Stringers Creek gorge from Thomson Station to Happy Creek and return.
Stations at Leongatha, Korumburra, Loch and Nyora
One of Australias longest, privately managed and operated broad guage volunteer, mainline passenger railways. The 40 km section of the century old former South Eastern rural mainline of the Victorian Railways takes passengers through the rolling Strzeleckis and some of the most lush and rich dairy farmland in Australia. Join the train at the historic Korumburra station, or at Leongatha, Loch or Nyora.
GRAND RIDGE ROAD
Access: The Grand Ridge Road can be accessed from the west from Warragul or Korumburra and from the east from Yarram and Traralgon via Carrajung. This 134 km scenic road follows the ridge of the Strzelecki Ranges, alternating between idyllic farmland vistas and dense mountain forests, including the magnificent Tarra Bulga National Park.
YARRAGON VILLAGE
Princes Freeway Yarragon.
Affectionately known as the `browers delight, Yarragon is a village full to bursting with the unique and unusual, the delicious and the delightful. Simply the best arts, craft, textiles, galleries, books, antiques, coffee and cakes you are likely to find.
Eastern Victoria possesses some of the States richest and intriguing gold heritage. From Melbourne, the western part of the Gippsland goldfields are an easy two hour drive along the Princes Freeway.
Although much of Gippslands remaining gold heritage can be seen in easily accessible locations, many of the more remote township sites and mine locations are tenaciously hidden away in the rugged high country.
The remoteness of many of these gold sites has allowed some of the original gold workings and equipment to survive, unlike other gold areas that moved on when the gold ran out. In many cues the heavy mining machinery was simply abandoned to the bush because removal was uneconomic.
GippsIands proud gold heritage can be absorbed in numerous towns across the region and there are a range of historic buildings, structures and interpretative attractions that allow the visitor to appreciate the atmosphere of a bygone era.
Probably the best known is the famous and historic township of Walhalla, nestled in a narrow valley of great natural beauty. Here youll discover a mountain gold town that 100 years ago was crammed with buildings and stripped of all trees, to provide firewood for the boilers of the deep underground mines. The bush has now returned to its natural state, and unlike nearly all the surrounding villages, Walhalla remains as a living town and is distinguished by the fact that mains electricity was only connected in 1998. Walhalla was home to Victorias richest gold producer, the
Long Tunnel Mine, which delivered enormous dividends to its shareholders during a half century of operation.
GippsIand has something to offer everyone. For the more adventurous, a lot of GippsIands gold sites are almost impossible to access without the assistance of a 4WD and cross-country hike. This offers perfect opportunities to combine the attraction of high country walks and visiting the sites of gold mines and former townships.
However, GippsIand gold history is more than just mountain ranges. Before the GippsIand railway from Melbourne was connected through to Sale, Bairnsdale and the GippsIand Lakes, the original seaport of Port Albert was the only southern access to the Walhalla mines and numerous small mining settlements such as Jericho, Grant and Donnellys Creek. All these relied on Port Albert for the supply of public transport, all provisions and equipment. Towns such as Sale, Toongabbie and Traralgon were largely founded as the service centres to the mining towns, supplying timber, explosives and food.
Although the Latrobe Valley Is mainly known
as the source of Victorias brown coal fired electricity generators, this fuel was first trailed late in the 19th century as an experimental energy source for the Walhalla gold mines, which then used up to 35,000 tonnes of firewood annually.
With over 150 sites nominated in GippsIand as historical gold sites, you will see that GippsIand has a lot to offer. Signs will be placed at identified sites and will display an historic photograph or line drawing of what existed on the site during the gold era, and text describing the site and its importance.
GippsIand Gold Discovery Trails will link all gold heritage sites and open up the remote mountain areas. The trails all utilise current roads and will retrace original gold routes. Along the length of the trails, interpretive signage will be placed at regular intervals to highlight the tales, stories and places that made up GippsIands gold era.
The GippsIand Gold Discovery Brochure will be launched in November 2001 that will back up the signs and will be readily available through out GippsIand and Victoria.
