Daylesford - Lake Daylesford
Lake Daylesford is a man-made lake which was built in 1929. The location offers scenic walks and swimming during summer. The swimming area is located on the site of a submerged former swimming pool. On the bank of the lake are the historic change rooms. The water depth is variable and is not suitable for inexperienced swimmers.
In the area are toilets, shelters with tables and BBQ, kiosk, paddle-boat hire, canoe hire and car parking.
History
Lake Daylesford was formed when the dam wall was built across Wombat Creek above the Central Springs in 1929. The town wanted an ornamental body of water to beautify the scarred creek landscape.
Walter Burley Griffin recommended native vegetation along the western side and the Progress Association and local schools helped plant European and native trees in other parts of the reserve.
Crowds flocked here for diving demonstrations, swimming competitions, boating regattas and fishing events.
Guesthouses and holiday accommodation flourished around the lake precinct.
Mullock Heap
The large mullock heap on the north side of the lake is from the Defiance Co workings. A motorized puddling machine was located up on the southern end of the heap and used to extract the gold; the (annulus) outline footprint is still visible.
From 1934 until WWII the Defiance Co. used the old Wombat Hill Extended Co. tunnel to access and drain old underground workings beneath the Defiance paddock on the other side of Wombat Hill. It was straightened, regraded and enlarged to allow the use of a horse drawn tramway of trucks and is 1.5km in length and 40m below ground level at its end.
John Egan's Cairn
On the 4th August, 1851 near the site of the cairn, John Egan discovered payable gold. The cairn was erected and unveiled on 4th August 2001 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold.
Wombat Flat Spring
The spring which has a hand pump is located beside the lake just south of the road before it crosses the lake.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are permitted on leash.
Review:
Lake Daylesford is a large picturesque lake with plenty of water birds including ducks, black and white swans and geese. The lake is separated by a busy road (Bleakley Street) and there are walking tracks around the complete lake. At one end there is a spillway with foot bridge above it next to the historic change-rooms and stone steps. In the past there was a swimming pool in front of the change-rooms plus a diving tower on the other side of the lake. These no longer exist but swimming is possible at the site of the old swimming pool.
There is a basic playground, Boathouse Cafe, Lukey's Boat Hire, toilets, shelters with tables and BBQs located around the lake. At Lukey's Boat Hire you can hire paddleboats or rowing boats. The boats generally operate in the afternoon.
To walk around the lake in its entirety would take around 90 minutes. Near the swimming area there is a side track to Central Springs and further along the creek there are more springs.
There is a side diversion to Bridport Street lookout. However the view is quite obstructed by trees and probably not worth the effort.
Photos:
Location
1 Leggatt Street, Daylesford 3460 Map
