Eldorado, Victoria

After "Long Service Leave" from the Blog, while we were visiting friends, relatives and family in Southern Victoria, we are back on the road again. As good as it was to catch up with everyone, it is also great to be back on the road. The Blog is back in business, hopefully we can bring you some interesting and up-to-date information along the way.

Our very rough plan is to meet up with the Murray River somewhere near the headwaters and follow it downstream to Robinvale or maybe further! Our destination after that will be decided at a much later date.

The Geelong-Melborne Road, Western Ring Road and the Hume Freeway makes for very easy driving but we decided to make an early stop-over at Balmattum RA near Euroa. It features acres of bitumen and hundreds of very large trucks, all night. In the far background you can see the profile of the country we are heading for.

Driving along the highway to Corryong we noticed a turn-off to Eldorado. It was many years ago that we visited that area. An executive decision was made, we completed a U-Turn and went back to the turn-off. We spent about half a day there. We met Maureen Hearn, a local resident, who writes 'The Eldorado Star' a bi-monthly News Letter. Maureen gave us a copy of The Eldorado Star and I will include it on the blog as soon as I can scan it into my computer. McEvoy Tavern lays claim to being the smallest Pub in Victoria.

Directly opposite the above businesses is this small but well developed park. More upgrades are planned I believe.

The Gunhouse has recently been refurbished. Unfortunate about the new sign board though. Obviously Signwriters no longer need the ability to spell correctly! "Soilders Memorial" the sign quotes.

Main Street is lined with these fabulous Gums that have just shed their bark.

Unfortunately the school is closed but is now used as a Museum. The Children now have to travel to Tarrawingee School. About 10 km distance. The Chain Bucket on the right is from The Eldorado Dredge.

An easy 1 km walk from the centre of town brings you to the Swing Bridge. Judy is crossing Bridge Mk 2. Mk 1 is a triffle unsafe but is still in position.

A view of the old swing bridge from the new one. Not sure if all that trash is from floods or just dropped off the surrounding trees.

Down on Reedy Creek below the swing bridges.

While scrambling down the bank to Reedy Creek I disturbed this monster Goanna. Luckily it decided to scale the tree and not me. It's tail alone is well over 1 metre in length.

As the name Eldorado suggests, This was a rich gold area. Alluvial Gold was mined here and this huge dredge travelled kms along Reedy Creek extracting Gold and Tin from the River Sands. The barge weighs in excess of 2200 tonnes and was powered by electricity. It was the # 3 user of electricity in Victoria after Melbourne and Geelong.

The gantry that controls the height (or depth) of the bucket chain.

Part of the bucket chain.

The main control room.

The 3 phase power lead. The power lead is at least 100 mm diameter.

Lions Den Hotel, Helenvale.

Many of the places we are visiting this time around we visited some sixteen years ago, The Lions Den Hotel at Helenvale is one of those places. We can faithfully report that not a lot has changed with 'The Pub' but there is a 'New Deck' for outside dining and drinking. There is also a large camping area out the back, don't think that was there previously, either. We hear through the "Traveller Chat Line" that the Lions Den Hotel is for sale if you can anti up the required 2.5 million they are asking. The Bloomfield Track passes out front, so we went for a drive down to Bloomfield to see the waterfalls there. We were expecting an adventurous driving experience but were non-plussed to drive on newly sealed road for most of the way. We could have towed the van down for the day! Somebody in a Mazda 2 could have made the drive quite easily! I believe the section of The Track from Bloomfield to Cape Tribulation is marginally more difficult with several creek crossings. The drive down to Bloomfield was quite interesting, travelling through The Wet Tropics all the way.

The same Entrance to The Lions Den Hotel, the Lion's Mane is getting a tad mangey now.

Cleaning-Up out front from the night before, it was a 'Big One'.

The Side Bar from inside. Check out the floor, you can see through it in several places and it all moves as you walk through.

From the Bar across to The Pool Table.

There are several large Goanna that roam the camp area. They are not at all concerned with the human presence.

The Little Annan River runs through at the bottom of the camp area, Jude was considering a swim.

The swimming hole in The Little Annan River.

When we booked in for two nights Management warned us that The Endeavour Rally was calling in on the second night, we weren't concerned, but we were the only other campers in sight. 

We were led to believe that there was going to be about 150 vehicles arrive.

There was even a "Roller" in the Rally. There was also a big Merc but I didn't get a photograph of that.

Preparing to leave Saturday Morning for the final leg of the rally to Port Douglas.

Final checks at the entrance to The Pub.

As well as being quite colourful, it was very noisy as well, with sirens and blaring speakers.

It was fun watching them all prepare to leave for the day especially considering the 'Night' they put in. The last reveller quietened about 4AM and the early risers were apparent soon after Sun-Up.

Bloomfield Falls on The Bloomfield River.

If you can enlarge the photograph (click on it), you will see a Crocodile sunning itself on a log near the far river bank just downstream from the falls..

Black Mountain, a very unusual formation beside The Mulligan Highway near Helenvale.

This is what it looks like close up.