Drouin - Jack's Giant and Friends Walk - West & South Gippsland

Drouin - Jack's Giant and Friends Walk

A 4km level walk along footpaths, grassy verges and tracks showcasing some significant remnant trees and bushland areas. There is a longer 4.4 km option.

Jack's Giant and Friends Walk Map

1. 1. This walk starts at Hearn Park where there are toilets, a BBQ and a playground.

2. Start at the south end of the park along Princes Way. Take note of the six Kurrajong or Bottle Trees. Whilst native to Australia they are not native to Drouin and amazingly they have survived well since being planted in the 1950s -1960s. Walk north through the park.

3. There are some huge remnant Mountain Grey Gums in this park which have long been landmarks at the entrance to Drouin. The largest of these has a trunk girth of 7.2 m and is estimated to be about 250 years old. In Drouin's past this park was the original football oval. Take note of the many bird hollows in this and in the nearby group of three Mountain Grey Gums. You may also see a nest or two high up in the canopy.

4. The memorial Variegated Tristania was planted in 1967 to remember William J Bloye, Buln Buln Shire Councillor and very keen naturalist. He was responsible for the saving and reopening of Glen Nayook. The original tree has been replaced.

5. Walk north along Hearn St footpath to where it crosses to the west side of Hearn St and stand under the 17 large Mountain Grey Gums on the median strip. They are a rare group to find in urban development and have a high habitat value.

6. Walk north along the footpath away from the park.

7. Take the time to appreciate the tall Mountain Grey Gums along the median strip of this service road. There are more of this species of remnant gum in Drouin than any other.

8. As you walk past the two caravan parks take note of the huge eucalypts still present Most are Mountain Grey Gums with their distinctive fibrous/ rough grey bark at the bottom and smooth pale grey trunk above with whitish-yellowish creamy streaks.

9. Cross Wellwood Rd to the grass verge.

10. Walk left (west) down Wellwood Rd.

11. Four Blue Gums on this reserve land have prolific, highly perfumed white flowers in winter desired by nectar feeding birds. This is the only area in Drouin containing Blue Gums.

12. A little further down this area is a group of five Messmates together with one Blue Gum and further along is a group of six Mountain Grey Gums. Towards the end are two Peppermint Gums. Until 1972, when Wellwood Rd was put through, this area was all native bush and mixed remnant eucalypts.

13. Turn around and walk back to Princes Way.

14. Turn left and walk north along the service road where you will see very large trees in this area.

15. Outside 980 Princes Way is 'Jack's Giant' a Mountain Grey Gum with virtually four trunks coming from its base, although it is only one tree. Jack's Giant has a trunk girth of 8.9 m making it the second largest giant in Drouin's urban area. Named after Jack Wharton who farmed 66 acres here from 1948. This service road was once the old Princes Highway.

16. The Blue Gum at 966 Princes Way is a good example of the Blue Gums which were part of the eucalypt forest diversity at this end of Drouin. The large canopy along with the Spotted Gums and Peppermints planted nearby, provides excellent bird habitat.

17. Continue walking north along this service road.

18. At 960 Princes Way there is a group of Eucalyptus racfiata or Narrow-leaved Peppermints. The bark on these trees is deeply fissured supporting many insects and spiders that attract numerous birds. Believed to be remnant trees adding to the rich diversity of this area.

19. Messmate and Mountain Grey Gum 'twins'. Both are very well occupied trees. Look for gum stains on the bark that might indicate Sugar Gliders use these trees. Turn around here and walk back along the service road.

20. At Wellwood Rd, cross over and walk along Princes Way to Roberts Crt.

21. Cross over Roberts Crt and walk down the grassy verge on the left side of the road.

22. Ahead is Roberts Road Reserve. This remarkable piece of bushland forest has some remnant Mountain Grey Gum and Strzelecki Gum trees. It provides incredible habitat value and a buffer between industry and housing and a 'window' into what the early pioneers faced in settling in what was 'The Great Gippsland Forest'.

23. Turn left and follow the walking link under the avenue of tall Mountain Grey Gums: 30 trees about 25 m high some in excess of 4 m girth.

24. At the end of the trees is Oberon Pl. Look for the walking link on the left up into Palm Sq. [Alternatively for a longer return you can walk to end of Oberon PI, turn right into Eucalypt Crt, left into Miller Cl, right in Rivendale Cres, left into Longwarry Rd and back to Hearn Park 4.4 km).

25. At the top of Palm Sq turn right and walk back to Hearn Park (4.0 km).