Walk Report October 26
15 walkers gathered at the picturesque Jubilee Lake, near Daylesford, to the raucous welcome of two majestic peacocks. Once again we were under the experienced guidance of Dale Gordon and Heather Bice as we headed along the track beside the lake, enjoying the views across the water and the lush vegetation, including ferns and mosses but also the colourful, but invasive, Forget-me-not and English Broom. After crossing a couple of sturdy bridges we arrived at the Avenue of Elms then continued on to the Jubilee Spring and a tasting of the water.
We then entered the historic forest area, past the sad remnants of an abandoned sawmill.Equipment, once worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, sits rusting away, though the Australian sense of humour was evident in the sign pointing to the site.
The open forest varied greatly from bracken and tall, white trunked eucalypts, to dry scrub and Messmates, showing signs of past reduction burns. There were impressive stands of Redgums and native grasses and we all safely navigated Blind Creek with grateful assistance from Dale.
Evidence of gold mining was everywhere with water races, mine shafts and gullies gouged by alluvial mining. There were even fairies enjoying a day in the bush. After morning tea by a dam,we went cross country, then a bit of bush bashing up the embankment of the old Ballarat to Daylesford railway line, that we followed back to Jubilee Lake and a picnic lunch.
Except for a startled Grey Kangaroo and a cheeky Grey Fantail, wildlife was scarce, though a Kookaburra and King Parrot were heard. Wildflowers were also thin on the ground, with the Narrow – leaf Bitter pea the most prolific and a few patches of Purple Coral pea, Pink Bells, Common Rice flower, Ivy leaf violet, Cut-leaf daisy and Matted Bush-pea (photo). There was also a large area of the noxious Serrated Tussock (photo).
Another new and interesting walk from Dale and Heather, whose efforts are very much appreciated by us all.
HMcD.
