Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

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.

Walk leader for this month’s walk on Sunday 20th July is Steve Charman, author of “The Coliban Main Channel, A Walking Guide”.

The focus of this return walk will be the Coliban Main Channel in Malmsbury, starting at Malmsbury Reservoir and describing a 6 to 7 kms loop that will, in part, return along the Coliban River. While the walk may prove disappointing for the botanists, there’ll be plenty for the history buffs. Mostly easy flat walking, but with one or two gates to climb. 

Meet outside the Community House 30 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine at 9.20am to register and organise car-pooling for prompt departure at 9.30am, or be at the Malmsbury Reservoir Picnic Ground at 10am.

Walks are free and non-members are welcome. Bring water, morning tea and lunch.
You can read our advice to walkers document here

There is no need to book in for this walk but if you have any questions you can all the walk leader Steve Charman on 0411 357 601, or from Friday 18th July you can call the walks coordinators Lisa Hall 0488 102 191 or Gen Blades 0431 371 065.

A bleak forecast didn’t stop a smallish group of resolute walkers from taking on the June short walk yesterday. The route followed a quiet gully south of Chewton, much revitalised by recent damp weather. It’s quite amazing how even the little moisture we’ve had over the last ten days has brightened a grey landscape.

What better way to spend a Sunday? There is a universe down there, and you have to get down to see it. (Photo: Cassia Read)

Significant patches of ground stood out in bright colours of different moss and lichen species, and hand lenses were deployed enthusiastically and with great effect under the engaging guidance of Cassia Read. It should be said that a lot of bending, creeping and crouching was necessary to get the right observations, but the result was definitely worth the effort.

And another amazing, though apparently prosaic fact: the gully we traversed is the product of gold rush destructiveness, and is still struggling over a century later…definitely a candidate for World Heritage nomination?

Our thanks to Cassia for making her expertise so accessible in the field. Here’s a partial list of moss species observed:

Dawsonia longiseta (Small Dawsonia)
Polytrichum juniperinum (Juniper Moss)
Grimmia laevigata (Salt and Pepper)
Grimmia pulvinata (Cushion Moss)
Braunia imberbe (Green Hoar-moss)
Rosalubryum billarderii (Rosette Moss)
Sematophyllum homomallum (Bronze Signal Moss)
Hypnum cupressiforme (Plait Moss)
Triquetrella papillata (Common Twine Moss)
Triquetrella paradoxa (Messy Twine Moss)

Photos by Joy Clusker.