Daylesford - Jubilee Lake
Jubilee Lake was constructed in 1860 as a water supply to the Daylesford and Hepburn Goldfields. The retaining wall collapsed in 1861 after floods and the dam was rebuilt and enlarged and known as the Hepburn Goldfields Reservoir. The reservoir was later drained and the bed washed for gold and refilled. In 1887 it was re-named Jubilee Lake in honour of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It is no longer suitable for domestic use and it became a popular recreation centre for camping, boating, fishing and swimming.
Jubilee Lake area is a declared wildlife sanctuary and is now home to local wildlife including water birds. There is a picnic area, walking trails, nearby mineral spring, kiosk, toilets and BBQs.
The main fish species in the lake are rainbow trout, redfin and tench. Jubilee Lake is one of five premier lakes in Victoria. Premier lakes are stocked with larger premier rainbow trout (more then 1kg) and advanced yearling rainbow trout at least four times per year. A recreational fishing license is required when taking or attempting to take any species of fish from public waters including Jubilee Lake. Note: Fishing licences are available from the newsagents on Vincent Street and you will be able to fish the same day you get the license.
Jubilee Lake Circuit Walk - A 1.8 km, easy walk. Walk to the edge of the lake and turn right onto a track which follows the bank of the Wombat Creek (south east corner), pass the pedestrian bridge, go through the gateway and within 100m is Jubilee Lake Mineral Spring. Return on track across the bridge to follow the track along the edge of the lake. Water will be noticed flowing across the track in several places. This comes from the old gold mine tunnels under Italian Hill. Cross the weir and the old railway bridge which was formerly part of the railway line between Daylesford and North Creswick.
Check out Wombat Falls near the weir.
The Victoria Park to Jubilee Lake walk is 3.2 km return and is easy/medium. A marked track starts opposite the junction of Basin Road and Ballan Road, descends past a sluiced out gully on the right, cross Blind Creek over a bridge to reach Jubilee Lake Road, cross the bridge to a marked old mining track ascending steadily to Jubilee Lake weir and follow the lake circuit walk described above.
Review:
There is a walking track around the lake which takes approximately 20 minutes. For a significant part of the walk you don't get much of a view of the lake through the vegetation. The side of the path on the north side of the lake is covered in blackberry brambles. In early April the blackberries were still red but if they were ripe, this walk would be ideal for the blackberry connoisseur. There are some jetties which offer a suitable spot to see the water birds and water lilies in the lake. There is a camping ground next to the lake and a playground.
There is a cafe, unshaded tables and seats, brick shelter with two tables and sheltered BBQs, water tap and toilets. A number of peacocks wander around the area next to the cafe.
Paddleboats and canoes can be hired. Prices (in April 2015) were $20 per half hour or $30 per hour for paddleboats and $15 per half hour or $20 per hour for canoes.
Photos:
Location
151 Jubilee Lake Road, Daylesford 3460 Map
