Drouin - The Settlement Giant Walk - West & South Gippsland

Drouin - The Settlement Giant Walk

A 2.5km walk along paths, formed tracks, grassy verges and areas of grassed parkland highlighting one of the oldest remnant giants in Drouin, and other significant habitat areas. Easy walk with gentle slopes. Grass areas are wet in winter.

The Settlement Giant Walk Map

1. This walk starts at the small park on the corner of Springwater Drive and Settlement Road.

2. Look up at The Settlement Giant, behind the playspace. It is a Mountain Grey Gum, the largest remnant gum in Drouin. It is 12.5 m (41') in trunk girth, 30 m high, home to at least five different species of native birds and is approximately 300+ years old. Walk close and look up into the canopy. Imagine what stories this old giant could tell! The land here was used by some of Drouin's butchers as holding paddocks for their slaughterhouses or abattoirs. The Winters and the Colquhouns were both well known Drouin butchers. For many years this old giant gave shelter to stock.

3. Walk south down Settlement Rd to Shillinglaw Rd. Stop and take time to look back over the 'plains' of Drouin and the many tree corridors of this area. These are home to many birds and mammals.

4. Cross over Shillinglaw Rd and walk into the off-leash dog area. This used to be the home of the Drouin Pony Club before it moved out to Lardner. There are some large trees in this area providing valuable habitat for wildlife. Many dogs also love the paddock to run in!

5. Walk back through the trees to Settlement Rd and proceed south staying on the grassy verge.

6. After the creek, walk into the carpark area.

7. Continue through the car park area and turn right to walk on the gravel path around the oval.

8. This lake area was man made under the direction of Leo Boeyen (Superintendent of Buln Buln Shire's Parks and Gardens department). Jack Cuthbertson, one of Drouin's noteable construction operators, instructed his men to put the earth dug from the lake on to the back or west side creating 'islands' of earth.The seeds in that earth (now trees) are on these'islands'which can be encircled with water in wet winters.

9. Many wetland birds can be seen on the lake and hiding in the reed beds: Eurasian Coots, Wood Ducks, Purple Swamphens, Chestnut Teal, White-faced Herons, Cormorants, Pacific Black Ducks. Can you spot any dragonflies? They pollinate plants and provide food for fish, frogs and birds in their larval stage.

10. At the south west corner there is a path heading off to the right.

11. This priceless ferngully is a glimpse into what it would have been like for the pioneers. Some ferns are up to 5 m in height. One bird watcher has noted 30+ species of native birds in this area. Superb Fairy Wrens are often seen with Rainbow Lorikeets, Galahs, Corellas, Grey Fantails, Kookaburras etc as well as smaller birds such as New Holland Honeyeaters, White Naped Honeyeaters, Brown Thornbills, Silver Eyes and Grey Shrike-thrushes. At the bridge return back on the path to the oval.

12. Continue around the oval on the path.

13. As shown on the map, walk across the grass towards the crossing on Settlement Rd and then cross over to the south side of Lampard Rd. Walk east.

14. When you are opposite the entrance to the hockey fields cross over to the north side of Lampard Rd. Walk north alongside the synthetic hockey field.

15. Note the small bushland area between the two soccer fields on the left. Bellbirds (Bell Miners) frequent this area and the other nearby corridors of bush. Will Rumble owned the land and sold it to Buln Buln Shire in 1964. He wrote many poems about the birds in this bushland area.

16. At the north end of the sports fields are groups of trees planted about 1970. Although not remnants, they add to the corridors of trees around Bellbird Park - Spotted Gums, Blue Gums, Angophoras. Local residents mounted a campaign to save these trees in 2015. Take time to explore these beautiful trees.

17. At the north end of the park is Blackwood Crt. Walk through here and then along Blackwood Crt to the next intersection.

18. At Holland St turn left and continue to Settlement Rd retracing your steps back to the Settlement Giant.