Trentham Falls

My slow journey of natural treasures continues, though the 'real world' snaps at my heels and sadly, my happy sojourn in the Spa country of Victoria draws to a close. Over the past few days and especially the weekend just gone, substantial rainfalls have been recorded across most of Victoria. These rains have caused major flooding in some parts with many houses and business affected, causing hardship and disruption to hundreds of citizens. Yet, in other parts, the rain has brought a beneficial bounty. Many reservoirs and dams, parched by the near decade long Drought are being replenished, though they are still quite reduced in some parts. The Countryside not swamped by water is bounding into life aided by the turn of the season. Farmers are well pleased with Crops being planted and the prospect of voluminous feed for cattle. The native wildlife is being given a bonus and no doubt there will be a rare explosion of vibrant fecundity after some tough years. I have a happy suspicion the native orchids will be in assertion come the next few weeks too. It is an amazing, assuring and heart lifting to see the change in the landscape and an example of this has been my rediscovery of some of the waterfalls, now overflowing with cascades that offer rare opportunities for photography.

Trentham Falls is located 87 kilometres/54 miles to the north-west of Melbourne and a whisker under 3 kilometres/2 miles north of the small township (population 800) by which the Falls are named. At 32 metres/105 feet, Trentham Falls are considered the highest single drop in Victoria. Fed by the normally placid Coliban River, they gush over large columns of basalt generated by volcanic activity undertaken up to 5 million years ago. Below the Falls are stands of tree ferns, wattles, peppermints, sassafras and imposing eucalypts, mostly manna gums, messmates and stringybarks, clearly benefitting from the recent heavenly splashes. At the base of the Falls you will also see the greenish imbued hues of quartz and granites. An unofficial and quite slippery narrow track leads from a viewing platform (which is partly obscured by trees) to a small rock ledge that accords a fine view of the Falls. If so intrepid, you can literally scramble your way to underneath the Falls. Though I take a view that such activity would unnecessarily damage the delicate rock and fauna structure. So, best to stay back a little and encompass the view as a whole rather than some pointless bravado. On the day of my visit the track I scrambled along was quite a challenge to the plod feet with my slipping and tumbling over a couple of times - my main concern was not limb but camera, so you can realise where my priorities rested! Yet, once at my photographic platform I gasped with astonishment amidst the refreshing spray emanating from the Falls. I was so thrilled to see this vista. Normally the Falls are quite placid and in summer often dry to desultory trickle despite the annual rainfall of 1,102 millimetres or 44 inches, though the last 10 years this average has rarely been met let alone exceeded. I had the tripod set up in a jiffy and proceeded to compose, watching the early morning light change by the minute. Another bonus of the vantage point was a marvellous rainbow effect caused by light diffraction through the bridal veil of water. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time at the right angle and by pure chance on a sunny, bright morning with the light 'falling' onto the cascades. Needless to say, I remained in this spot for a couple of hours, greedily taking in the vista, feeling as if I was the only person on the planet to be here. I would occasionally look up to the 'official' viewing platform and smile knowing the folks up there were missing out on this grand theatre of water, light and fauna.

Sadly, with the changing light as the Sun rose higher, it was time to hoick back up the track and return to Trentham for a Pub Meal excited at my photographic booty. Trentham itself is one of my favourite places, which I generally visit 3-4 times a year. Once a railway town on the now defunct railway line that spread from the large rural town of Woodend to the Spa Country 'capital' of Daylesford - a distance of 44 kilometres/27 miles .The line was truncated by faceless economic rationalists in 1978 after 102 years of patronage, though a small remnant still operates between Daylesford and Bullarto (a distance of about 12 kms/7 miles) as a tourist railway. The old railway station at Trentham has been lovingly restored and turned into the Trentham Agricultural and Railway Museum & Tourism Information Centre replete with some old rolling stock left behind, some sections of railway line and signals. A delightful 9 kilometre/6 mile walk from the station into the nearby Wombat State Forest and back, following the old right of way is a highlight of any jaunt to Trentham. This easy ramble was one of the first walks I undertook when the plodding bug took hold of me many years ago. So, I always call this walk my epiphany trundle and do this walk at least once a year, treating myself to some Fish n' Chips and a lime Milkshake at the Takeaway near the Bus Stop afterwards

European settlement first occurred at Trentham in the late 1830s with the establishment of pastoral runs usurping the indigenous custodians who had occupied the district for well over 25,000 years. Subsequently, in the 1850s a large forestry and timber milling industry became established in the nearby Wombat Forest (now a large and protected State Park) supplemented by a short though intense and environmental destructive gold rush. The timber industry prevailed until the 1970s but since that time has steadily declined with tourism now the major income bank. With the timber industry in decline, Trentham adopted a more sedate culture becoming a place to 'escape' for a weekend or more allowing for its relative proximity to Melbourne (about 90 minutes driving time away). It occasionally snows in Trentham; due to its elevation of 700 metres/2,291 feet and a very popular once a month weekend market takes place that draws hundreds of visitors eager to sample the fine craftware, artwork and goods for sale.

Another feature of Trentham is that it is accessible by public transport - in this case a 40 minute (from Melbourne) train trip to Woodend and then a connecting Bus from there for the 25 minute trip to Trentham. The Bus continues on its way to Daylesford stopping at a few places each a good starting point for walks into the forests. Happily, you have well over 8 hours to wander about before the returning Bus and connecting train, so it's ideal as a day walk or better still, if you are game enough, camp out overnight or stay at one of the many B&Bs in the district.

Ruefully, I have to return Home in a day or two, body refreshed and ready to undertake the next more exacting physical trials ahead and of course with spring starting its riot to cherish each day under a southern hemisphere, parochial, Australian Sun.

My thoughts too remain with my New Zealand friends, especially around Christchurch following their earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, some quite severe.