Warrandyte, Victoria: Travel guide and things to do

Warrandyte, Victoria

Warrandyte is now technically an outer suburb of Melbourne, located 30 km from the city centre and 112 m above sea-level. However, being situated on the Yarra River and surrounded by the remnant natural bushland of Warrandyte State Park, it retains an element of the rural village and a number of craftspeople and artists have taken up residence in the area which has something of a reputation for its conservationist values.

Some speculation about the origins of the town's name relates to the Wurundjeri willam Aborigines who occupied the area prior to European settlement. 'Warrandyte' is thought to be derived from the Woiwuring word 'warin', meaning 'wombat', although another etymological theory explains the word as meaning 'to throw at a target'.

A pastoralist named James Anderson established a run here in 1839 after overlanding cattle from Sydney. Thus the area became known as Anderson's Creek. An Aboriginal reserve of 445 ha was established in 1841 at Pound Bend (now in Warrandyte State Park).

The district was opened up when gold was discovered by Louis Michel at the junction of Anderson's Creek and the Yarra River in 1851 (a cairn on Gold Memorial Road honours this event). He was granted one of three government awards for making what was the first gold strike in the Port Phillip District. Novelist Henry Kingsley is thought to have worked for a time at this field which was the first on the land now known as Victoria. Although attention soon shifted to the major goldrush north-west at Clunes mining continued until World War I.

The townsite was surveyed in 1856, the year that a punt service across the local section of the Yarra River was established (it was replaced by a bridge in 1861). Warrandyte developed as something of an artists' colony from the late 19th century. Clara Southern, associated with the Heidelberg School, was one of the first to take up residence at Warrandyte. Others followed, including Penleigh Boyd and Jo Sweatman. The heavy clay of the district was exploited early on by European settlers and this orientation has intensified over the years.

Eltham, to the west, was also a popular hang-out for artists and nearby Montsalvat was specifically created as an artists' village and intellectual centre at the instigation of Justus Jorgenson who died in 1975.

The Warrandyte Markets are held on the first Saturday of each month (except January) adjacent the Yarra River at Stiggants Reserve in Yarra St (the main thoroughfare).

Things to see

Tourist Information
Information Warrandyte is located in the Warrandyte Community Centre at the corner of Yarra St (the main thoroughfare) and Webb St. They are open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Fridays. They have plenty of brochures outlining craft shops in the area (of which there are many), bushwalks, river walks and goldmining sites, tel: [phone].

The Post Office Museum
The museum is situated in the old Warrandyte post office adjacent the Grand Hotel in Yarra St. It has items pertaining to local history and is open weekends and public holidays from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: [phone].

Warrandyte State Park
Gold was first discovered on Anderson's Creek in 1851 by Louis Michel. It is thought to be the first gold strike in what is now Victoria and was certainly the first goldfield in the Port Phillip District. Goldmining relics remain scattered throughout the park (particularly at Fourth Hill). Situated around the Yarra River the park contains one of the few remaining remnants of natural bushland in the metropolitan area of Melbourne and it is an ideal area for picnickers, canoeists, bushwalkers, recreational swimmers, horseriding, cyclists and birdwatchers.

Most of the land is situated along the banks of the Yarra River. There are eastern grey kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, platypuses, wombats, marsupial mice, brushtail and ringtail possums, sugar gliders, snakes, wildflowers in springtime and many bird species such as the azure kingfisher, powerful owl, regent honeyeater (endangered in Victoria) and wedge-tailed eagles.

Adventure Canoeing (tel: [phone]) hire out canoes and other equipment and organise canoeing trips on the river. There are a number of visitor sites in the park which are listed below. For further information ring the park office on [phone] or Parks Victoria on 131 963.

1. Fourth Hill
A signposted earthen road leads off the southern end of Yarra St alongside Andersons Creek to the carpark for the Fourth Hill site where there are old mine shafts. These can be dangerous. Visitors should come prepared and enter at their own risk.There are also excellent wildflower displays in season, a picnic area, information boards, family walks and a horseriding trail.

2. Whipstick Gully
A sealed and signposted road leads off the northern end of Yarra St to the Whipstick Gully carpark. This reserve retains some old mining sites and relics such as the poppet head near the information shelter which provides details on the area's history. A self-guided walk is part of the broader Gold Heritage Walk. There is a picnic area, a family walk and horseriding is permitted. It is situated adjacent the Warrandyte-Research Road just north of Warrandyte.

3. Pound Bend Reserve
The Pound Bend Reserve is popular in summer. There are grassy areas for picnicking, a walking track along the river which supplies access to koalas and a variety of flora, toilets (including disabled facilities), information boards, canoeing, swimming and horseriding opportunities and a nature walk. The Pound Bend Tunnel was created in 1870 by a goldmining company in order to divert the course of the Yarra River, thereby enabling the exploitation of the old riverbed. It is now a popular swimming spot. Pound Road is a signposted surfaced road which heads north off Warrandyte Road (which, in turn, heads west from Warrandyte to Templestowe). The entry gates to this site are closed of an evening (times are posted on the park entrance signs).

4. Normans Reserve
Normans Reserve offers excellent views of the Pound Bend Tunnel entrance. There is a picnic area, a family walk and canoeing and swimming opportunities. It is also one of the few areas in the park where dogs on leads are permitted. To get there head off Yarra St along the Research-Warrandyte Rd and, after about 700 metres, there is a turnoff on the left into Bradleys Lane (initially surfaced) which leads to the reserve. The entry gates are closed of an evening.

5. Black Flat
Black Flat is an area of open woodland with old mine diggings, a variety of birdlife, a picnic area and a riverside walking track. Horses are not allowed at this site. It lies at the end of Tills Drive (an earthen road) which leads off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd (an extension of Yarra St) about 1.3 km beyond the turnoff to Whipstick Gully.

6. Jumping Creek Reserve
Another kilometre south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd is a turnoff on the left into Jumping Creek Road. About 1.5 km along Jumping Creek Road is another turnoff (signposted) on the left into a surfaced road which leads to Jumping Creek Reserve - a noted bushwalking spot. An explanatory leaflet (available at the carpark) is designed to accompany the nature trail. There are wood barbecues, a sheltered picnic area, a family walk, information boards, disabled facilities and swimming and canoeing opportunities. The entry gates are closed of an evening. Horses are not allowed in this area.

7. Yarra Brae and Homestead Road and Homestead Road Canoe Launch
About 5 km along Jumping Creek Rd is a turnoff on the left into Dudley Rd (surfaced). When you reach the road junction turn right into Fulford Rd which leads into Clifford Rd. This leads to Yarra Brae which is a more remote spot in the park. The tracks are rough in parts and there are no facilities but some excellent views of the river and the surrounding terrain.

It is one more kilometre to the end of Jumping Creek Rd. At this point turn left into Reserve Rd. After 300 m turn right into Homestead Rd. This sealed road becomes surfaced then earthen. When it reaches the river there is a parking area and canoe launch.

8. The Common and Timber Reserve
If you continue south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd, 250 metres beyond the turnoff into Jumping Creek Rd, is another turnoff on the left into Johansons Rd which leads to The Common where there are opportunities for family walks and horseriding. Another 500 m south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Road is a turnoff on the right into Harding Rd which leads to Timber Reserve where there are also family walks and a horseriding trail.

Potters Cottage
Potters Cottage, situated amidst a spacious cottage garden, features an extensive collection of pottery, paintings, glass, jewellery and other crafts. It was established by a group of artists in 1958 and Potters' School was set up in 1969. A more recent addition is a restaurant. It is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday evenings and is located a short distance along Jumping Creek Rd (which runs off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd) , tel: [phone] or [phone].

Kellybrook Winery and Restaurant
Kellybrook Winery, established in 1960, is open from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. every day but Sunday when it opens at 11.00 a.m. It produces table wines, sparkling wines, cider and apple brandy. The restaurant is open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, tel: [phone].

To get there turn off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd into Jumping Creek Rd. After about 5 or 6 km you will find yourself in Wonga Park. Turn left into Fulford Rd which leads to the winery. The Kellybrook Cedar Festival is held at Wonga Park on the first weekend in May.

Yarra Valley Hills Winery
To get to the Yarra Valley Hills Winery, continue south-east along the aforementioned Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd. Turn left into Croydon Rd which becomes Wonga Rd. From Wonga Rd there is a turnoff on the left into Delaneys Rd. The winery is at no.4. The cellar door is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on weekends. The restaurant is open for dinner from Thursday to Sunday and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, tel: [phone].

Aumann Family Orchard
Head south-west out of Warrandyte along the Warrandyte Rd for about 2 km then turn left into Harris Gully Rd. At no.150 is the Aumann Family Orchard. They offer peaches, nectarines, cherries, apples, apricots, plums, lemons, tomatoes and berries in summer and apples, pears and nashi pears in winter. Juice, ice-cream, honey, jams, chutneys and mustards are available all year round. From December to April they are open from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. daily and, for the rest of the year, from Wednesday to Saturday only (closing at 5.30 p.m.), tel: [phone].

Heidelberg School Artists Trail
This route is designed to take interested parties to the approximate sites depicted in the paintings of those associated with the Heidelberg School (i.e., Arthur Streeton, Walter Withers, Louis Buvelot, Tom Roberts, Clara Southern, David Davies, Emanuel Phillips Fox, Charles Conder, Tudor St George Tucker, Eigene Von Guerard, May Vale and Jane Price).

At each such site there is a reproduction of the relevant painting, providing insight into the artist's interpretation of the landscape and into how the landscape has changed since that time. It passes largely along the Yarra River, through Heidelberg, Bulleen, Templestowe, Eltham, Diamond Creek, Research, Warrandyte, passing through Ringwood and Montrose, en route to Kalorama, Olinda, Kallista and Upper Ferntree Gully. There is a guiding brochure which can be obtained from Banyule Council (tel: [phone]) or the project's organiser, tel: [phone] or [phone].