Stuart Mill - St Arnaud Range National Park - Wimmera

Stuart Mill - St Arnaud Range National Park

St Arnaud Range National Park features mainly steep, forested terrain and is an ideal place to experience what the forests of Central Victoria were like before the gold rushes. The rocky ridge tops in the park offer fine views for bushwalkers and four-wheel-drive tourers, and there are ample opportunities for hiking in the steep and rugged terrain. The Upper Teddington Reservoir is a peaceful place for picnics and camping.

Enjoying the Park

Camping and picnicking

The banks of the Upper Teddington Reservoir provide a pleasant venue for camping and picnics. Toilets and fireplaces are provided. Camp only in designated camping areas and at least 40m from the reservoir. Camping is also available at Teddington Hut (bookings essential).

Fishing and Boating

The Teddington Reservoirs are popular fishing sites with Brown Trout and Redfin commonly caught. Anglers over 16 require a Victorian fishing licence, which can be obtained in the St Arnaud township.

Non-powered boats (electric motors accepted) can be launched in the Upper Teddington Reservoir.

Swimming is NOT permitted in Teddington Reservoir.

Bushwalking

The rocky ridge tops in the park offer fine views for bushwalkers and four-wheel drivers. There are ample opportunities for hiking in the steep and rugged terrain and visitors will see a variety of native flora and fauna.

Prospecting

Recreational prospecting is permitted in designated areas (see map). Prospectors must hold a current Miner's Right. Please do not drive off road, and fill any holes created by prospecting.

Centre Road Nature Drive

The Centre Road Nature Drive passes through St Arnaud Regional Park, St Arnaud State Forest, Stoney Creek Nature Conservation Reserve and St Arnaud Range National Park. The drive is approximately 50km long and starts from the Wimmera Highway just out of St Arnaud. Fourwheel drive vehicles are recommended from Stuart Mill Gap Road to Redbank.

For a shorter tour, you can drive from St Arnaud to Rostron Picnic Area. A dam here provides a pleasant setting for a picnic. Stop at the West of England Lookout for great views of the surrounding countryside and the Grampians National Park.

History

Aboriginal people lived in the area before European settlement. Significant sites within the park which are evidence of this include scarred trees, mounds and stone artefact scatters.

In the 1840s squatters took up land in the area. Strathfillan Creek is named after one squatter's run. Stock grazing continued in some areas until 1995 - sheep yards built from bush timbers are among the few structures remaining from this activity.

Alluvial and shallow reef mining for gold began in the 1860s and a number of mining sites can still be found around the park today.

The park was also an important source of timber, supplying logs to local timber mills. Other uses included fence posts, palings and firewood. Yellow Gum, Grey Box and Red Ironbark were the main species harvested. A small Blue Gum plantation established in the 1920s and numerous tree stumps are reminders of the logging era.

The Teddington Reservoirs were constructed to supply water to the town of St Arnaud - No 1 was completed in 1900 and No 2 in 1929. The reservoir system was downgraded in 1947 and now only supplies nearby Stuart Mill. Many of the structures remain, including catch drains, weirs and the concrete lining of part of Strathfillan Creek.

The 13,526ha St Arnaud Range National Park is one of the new and expanded parks created in October 2002 to conserve and enhance what remains of Victoria's Box-Ironbark forests and woodlands. The park includes the former Kara Kara State Park and much of the St Arnaud Range State Forest.

Teddington Hut was originally constructed by the State Rivers and Works Commission around 1955. It was used to provide temporary accommodation for employees to carry out erosion works associated with the Teddington Reservoir Catchment.

The Teddington Reservoirs were officially considered an unreliable source of water by 1955 and as a result there was no longer a need for employees to use the hut for work purposes. Today the hut is used for camping. Bookings are required.

How to get there

St Arnaud Range National Park is 200km northwest of Melbourne. Main access to the park is from the Sunraysia Highway to the east. At Stuart Mill, follow the signs to Teddington Reservoir.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs and other pets are not permitted in the park.

Note: Photos from Parks Victoria