OT Dam Circuit Walk (Arthurs Seat)

The OT Dam Circuit Walk is a 3km, 2 hours return walk which offers views of the OT Dam.

The dam is most easily accessed from the car park at 527 Arthurs Seat Road near Main Creek Road. The walk is moderately difficult with a clearly marked, formed track with hills.

Route Map

There is a longer (5.5km) steeper walk to the dam from from Hillview Community Reserve in Dromana. See the route description for this walk.

The dam is located in a deep gully surrounded by native bushland including Eucalyptus forests and is surrounded by a boardwalk. The dam was originally constructed by the OT Cordial Company (later to become Kia Ora Cordials) in 1934 to water their crops. The company made a cordial called OT with chillies which is where the name OT came from. The business closed in the early 1940's probably due to lack of manpower due to the war.

Another historical source thinks the dam was constructed for Cottee's cordial to provide water for growing passion fruit for their Passiona soft drink, though they ran out of money before much happened on site.

OT Dam Circuit Walk (Arthurs Seat)

Access for Dogs:

The walk is located within Arthurs Seat State Park and dogs are not permitted.

Review:

At the start of the walk there is a beautiful set of murals on a water tank painted by Michael Leeworthy which is a tribute to the local firefighters in the area.

OT Dam Circuit Walk (Arthurs Seat)

The walk to the dam is 1.1km on a stony gravel road which is initially fairly flat and then quite steep downhill. The route to the dam is well signposted. After 900m there is a sign 'OT Dam 200m' and a dirt track branches off to the right through the bush.

You can circle the dam on a combination of narrow tracks and boardwalks. About half way round a bridge crosses a concrete culvert. The views of the lakes at various points are gorgeous.

On the way back there is a 600m steep section which is a real lungbuster. There are no picnic tables or water tap along the route.