The Dry Stone Wall Driving Trail (Melton)
The City of Melton lies on a vast volcanic plain that stretches to the South Australian border. Numerous volcanic eruption points around Melton, have provided plentiful field stone for the construction of farm fences, stockyards and dam walls. Early European settlers constructed walls and other structures without the use of mortar and in the style of their region. In Melton there are walls built by Irish, Scottish and English wallers.
Many of these dry stone walls and structures are still standing 150 years later as a reminder of the pastoral origins of this area.
The Melton Council also has a dry stone wall driving trail that highlights some good examples of dry stone walls in the City (see link to brochure and map below).
The Shire of Melton has some of the oldest and most interesting examples of dry stone walls and composite stone walls (timber-and-wire and timber-and-rail) that can be seen close to Melbourne. The landscape reflects its volcanic origin, in the low hills that are long-extinct volcanic cones and the deep valleys of the creeks that cross the otherwise flat countryside.
This driving trail takes you past some of the best examples of dry stone walls in the Shire. It visits eight locations where dry stone walls can be seen and enjoyed.
Along the way, you will also pass many other walls and interesting examples of other uses for dry stone construction, including a dam wall, sheep dip and yards.
The driving trail can be enjoyed in two parts, North and South of the Western Highway. It will take about 1.5 hours to complete, with a total distance of approximately 90 kilometres.
The trail first takes you north, into Toolern Vale and past the rocky outcrops of the former volcano, Mount Kororoit. The trail allows you to view two of the longest walls in the Shire, the greater of which extends for 3.8 kilometres along Blackhill Road.
At its most southern edge the trail runs along the boundary between the municipalities of Melton and Wyndham. This area is rich in dry stone walls and includes many examples of double stone walls.
Location
Cnr Reserve Road and Nixon Street, Melton 3337 Map
Web Links
→ Dry Stone Walls Driving Trail
→ Dry Stone Wall Driving Trail Brochure (PDF)
