 Be
Bushfire Smart
|
Change of Conditions
The Woolshed Falls Viewing Platform is closed for repairs from 30 October 2009. It will remain closed until repair works are completed. The Magenta Mine picnic area is closed until further notice.
|
|
|
|
This, recently expanded, 21,600ha park is located between Beechworth and the low hills surrounding Chiltern and includes the striking Mt Pilot Range and Woolshed Falls. Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park protects box-ironbark forest that once covered much of north-east Victoria and contains several historic goldmining sites. Short or day-long walks can be made on vehicle tracks through open forest and a 25km historic drive is marked from Chiltern through the forest and goldfields.
|
|
Things to Do
- Drive through the forest to Donchi Hill Lookout then on to the original Indigo goldfields cemetery - about an hour and a half's round trip.
- Visit the open-cut Magenta Mine which produced up to 13,000 ounces of gold between 1860 and about 1910. Horse-drawn drays carted away the rock for crushing in the nearby battery. A kilometre away is the site of a battery run by the Victorian Government in an effort to revive gold mining during the 1930s depression.
- Take a self-guided tour around Chiltern. This tour takes in Dow's Pharmacy, which ran its business on the site for more than 100 years, an old smithy, the Atheneum library-museum, the Star Theatre, the Grapevine Hotel (named to honour the largest grapevine listed in Australia) and Lakeview, one of the childhood homes of Henry Handel Richardson, the author of 'The Fortunes of Richard Mahony'.
- Enjoy easy walking along the 8.5km White Box Walking Track that has interpretative signs describing the natural and historical features of the park.
- Cycle on forest tracks at Donchi Hill in the west, Frogs Hollow and Magenta Mine and at Cyanide Dam.
- Visit Woolshed Falls and take the self-guided Woolshed Falls Historic Walk.
- Walk to the summit of Mt Pilot and enjoy the spectacular view.
- Visit the Yeddonba Aboriginal art site.
- Go bird watching and discover some of over 200 species found in the park.
- Stroll, drive or cycle through the park in spring to view the wildflower wonderland.
|
|
|
|
Facilities
- Picnic facilities are available.
- Camping is permitted in the Reedy Creek area of the park.
|
|
|
|
Heritage
Pastoralists bought cattle to the area in the 1830's, clearing and settling the fertile valleys and low foothills. Mining followed in 1852 and continued in many forms until 1950. Evidence of mining can be seen at a number of places within the park. Agriculture, mining and the growth of towns have required land and large amounts of timber. All these activities have had a significant impact on the park. Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria
|
|
|
|
Fauna
The park is the habitat of several rare or threatened species - the Regent Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot, Peregrine Falcon, the Brush-tailed phascogale and Squirrel Glider. Winter, when the ironbarks are in bloom, is the best time to see the birds. More than 150 bird species have been recorded in the area. Eastern Grey Kangaroos are often seen grazing in the late afternoon and smaller tree-dwelling creatures - Feathertail and Sugar Gliders, Brushtail and Ring-tail Possums - live in tree hollows in the southern areas. Many reptiles, including the Lace Monitor, also call the park home.
|
|
|
|
Vegetation
The hilly north-western block is open eucalyptus forest, with Red Stringybark and Blakeley's Red Gum among Grey Box and Ironbark. Prolific spring wildflowers include wattles, orchids, bush peas and Cassinia. Across the highway the forest covering the ridges and spurs of the south-eastern block is similar but with more diverse trees and plants, including White Box.
Dry granite ridges and outcrops are characterised by the presence of Black Cypress Pines.
|
|
|
|
Looking After the Park
- No dogs, cats or firearms.
- Fires may only be lit in fireplaces provided.
|
|
|
|
Precautions
- Keep on established tracks when walking, as abandoned mine shafts can be a hazard.
- Be prepared for very hot weather and take the necessary precautions if you are visiting the park in summer.
- Some sites visited on historic drives may not be easily accessible to people with limited mobility.
|
|
|
|
How to Get There
Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park is 275 km north-east of Melbourne, beyond Wangaratta (Melway ref: 622 E6). Follow the Hume Freeway to the Chiltern turn-off.
|
|
|
|
Nearby Parks
- Beechworth Historic Park
- Eldorado Historic Reserve
- Mount Lawson State Park
- Warby Range State Park
|
|
|
|
Guided Activities
1. Abseiling (C1)
2. Bicycle Touring (K1)
3. Birdwatching (A1)
4. Bushwalking (A2)
5. Canoeing / Kayaking (B3)
6. Coach/Bus Tours (J1)
7. Fossicking/Prospecting (H1)
8. Four Wheel Drive Tours (J2)
9. Mountain Bike Riding (K2)
10. Rock Climbing (C3)
11. Spotlight Tours / Nightwalks (A3)
|
|
|
|
Special Places
1. Indigo Goldfields Cemetery
2. Magenta Mine
3. Woolshed Falls
4. Yeddonba Aboriginal Cultural Site
|
|
|
|
Volunteers
1. Friends of Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park Inc.
|
|
|
|
Publications
Brochures 1.
Prospecting Guide
2.
Golden Gateways: Revealing Victoria's Gold Heritage (1.88MB)
3.
A new guide to Victoria's Parks: Parks Discovery
Park Notes / Maps 1.
Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park - Visitor Guide
Management Plans & Strategies 1.
Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park Management Plan (4 mb PDF)
Books & DVDs 1.
Victoria's National Parks
2.
Melbourne's Great Outdoors
3.
Wildlife of the Box-Ironbark Country
4.
Victoria's Box-Ironbark Country - a Field Guide
Corporate & Other Publications 1.
Victoria Government Gazette - prospecting area maps
|
|
|
|
