Creswick - Long Point Flora Reserve
Long Point Flora Reserve is a former gold mine site which has a walking track through the reserve.
This area was formerly known as Grahams Hill during gold mining times.
History
The first settlers arrived in this area in 1837-8 and took up large pastoral runs. John Graham was one of the first to buy land here after the pastoral runs were cut up. The area soon became known as "Grahams Hill".
In 1851, Gold was discovered at Clunes. By 1854 there were hundreds of mines on the "Bald Hills" diggings. Bells Flat was one of the richest gold fields at the time.
About 7,000 Chinese miners worked this area. To get water to the site, they surveyed and dug a water race some 1-2 km long from the creek near Bald Hills. Remnants of the channel can still be seen on either side of the Old Ascot Rd. Gravel was carried in baskets up the hill from the flats, washed by water from the race and the sludge allowed to run down the hill over the clay.
In 1868 Grahams Hill High School No. 925 was built, opening with 46 students. This grew to 86 in 1877. By 1880 Grahams Hill was a thriving community with shops, butchers, bakers & hotels. However, by 1890, the gold had run out and all the facilities had closed.
By 1890 the gold had run out and all the facilities at Grahams Hill had closed. After the last miners left, clay was taken from the east side for brick making by Selkirks and gravel was also carted by the Shire for road making and the site became prone to illegal rubbish dumping and abuse.
Most of the old mine shafts have been filled in but some holes still remain scattered throughout this reserve to remind us of its history.
This area has been known as Long Point in more recent years - almost certainly from the name given to a bend in the creek back in the gold mining days.
This site was given its present name in August 1995.
Flora
The remnant vegetation on this 3 ha site is highly significant. The mix of tree species is unique to the Ballarat Region - Candlebark (Eucalyptus rubida), Black She-oak (Allocasuarina littoralis), Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata), Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), Hedge Wattle (Acacia parodoxa) and Small Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea minor).
Considering the history of the site, the natural self-generation of Silver Banksia is quite amazing, particularly as they are severely depleted over much of their former range. Early explorers noted that these formed a significant component of the vegetation of the region at that time. The Black She-oaks are at their most north-western limit in western Victoria.
Location
1180 Gillies Road, Creswick 3363 Map
Web Links
→ www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/long-point-bushland-reserve
