Mount Eliza Regional Park and Moorooduc Quarry Flora And Fauna Reserve (Mount Eliza)
The Mount Eliza Regional Park incorporates the former Moorooduc Quarry and offers views across the surrounding plains as well as a lake with picnic areas and a playground. The Mornington Tourist Railway, which offers steam train rides, operates from the Moorooduc station located adjacent to the Mount Eliza Regional Park.
The Mount Eliza Regional Park preserves a natural section of the six kilometre Mount Eliza escarpment which is a prominent landscape feature visible from a large area of the Mornington Peninsula.
History of the Quarry
In the early 1850s the land was stripped of its substantial timber by lime burners. Timber from the site was used to build the Schnapper Point jetty at Mornington in 1854.
The quarry is believed to have been started in 1887 by Dr David Munro. In 1923 the Frankston-Hastings Shire Council purchased the site and continued to use it for quarrying.
After the quarry floor became flooded in 1961, it was closed. With the closure of the quarry, the lake filled and became a popular swimming spot. After a period of neglect, renewed community interest is now being shown in the natural beauty of the area.
Geology - Exposed rocks on the quarry face are ancient, being formed about 450 million years ago during the Ordovician period, before any vertebrate animals or land plants has evolved.
Review:
The area comprises two different areas - the Lakeside Picnic area and Moorooduc Quarry Flora And Fauna Reserve.
The Lakeside Picnic area has shelters with tables, unshaded tables, bins, BBQs, drop toilets and a decent playground. There is a water tap with basin near the toilets.
Near the playground is an oval shaped wetlands area with water birds and a gravel track circles the picnic area. Around the picnic area are big areas which have been mown and bordered by bush and long grass.
The main access to the Moorooduc Quarry Flora And Fauna Reserve is via a track which leads north from Balcombe Park along Two Bays Road. At Balcombe Park (Quarry Picnic Area) there is a basic playground, picnic area with toilets, shelter with table, unshaded tables, BBQ, water tap and grassy area.
The quarry area is a mountain escarpment with steep walks with lots of steps in the area. The track from the Quarry Picnic Area splits with tracks going off in a number of directions. If you go straight ahead there is a very long, steep wooden staircase to the top of the quarry while the track to the left goes to the entrance of the quarry.
Across the top of the quarry there are a couple of lookout points. Unfortunately the views into the quarry are obstructed by the vegetation but one of the lookout points has very good views across the landscape below. The route is very safe because there is a solid fence stopping access to the top of the steep quarry walls.
There is a lake in the quarry but swimming is not allowed. There is also an interesting narrow path along the back of lake under the high cliffs but that unfortunately has been blocked off for safety reasons - otherwise that would have been an interesting little adventure walk. The middle of the quarry is still an impressive place to visit with the towering walls surrounding you.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs must be on leash around the Lakeside Picnic area and are prohibited from the Moorooduc Quarry Flora And Fauna Reserve. A gravel road leads from the northern part of the picnic area to a dog off leash area.
Photos:
Location
Cnr Moorooduc Highway and Two Bays Road, Mount Eliza 3930 Map
