A walk in history: Malmsbury Coliban Channel.

It was a welcome sunny day for an enjoyable and interesting walk along section of the
Coliban channel near Malmsbury. Author of the book, The Coliban Main Channel: A Walking Guide, Stephen Charman, shared details from his extensive historical research &  love of walking. The walk focused on the Malmsbury section of the seventy kilometre long channel, which goes from Malmsbury reservoir to Crusoe Reservoir in Bendigo. We set off from Malmsbury Reservoir Picnic Ground and followed the main channel, where Stephen pointed out features of the infrastructure of the channel, both past and present. We observed remains of diversion channels, a story of how overflow from a slaughterhouse was managed by a wooden bridge, now concrete,so that the contaminated water did not flow into the channel. The Coliban River was often in proximity and the sight and sound of running water near Ellis falls was a lovely spot to stop for some morning tea. The walk was a glimpse into the movement of water across this dry landscape over the past two hundred years. Looking at this huge piece of infrastructure raises many issues that relate to the impact of our manipulation of the landscape.