Rubicon State Forest - Department of Environment, Land, Water and

February 2015
Rubicon State Forest
FS0055
DELWP – Alexandra
Rubicon State Forest
Located approximately two hours drive north east of
Melbourne, Rubicon State forest provides excellent
opportunities for camping, bushwalking, picnicking, fishing,
mountain biking, and recreational driving.
Location and Access
Situated between Lake Eildon National Park and
Maroondah Hwy, the attractions of Rubicon State forest
can be accessed from Taggerty-Thornton Rd, Goulburn
Valley Hwy or Eildon-Jamison Rd.
History
The area is home to the Taungurung people. Evidence of
indigenous habitation exists throughout the forest, such as
artefact scatters and scar trees.
ISSN 1440-2262
contributed about one-fifth of Victoria’s electricity needs.
While still in operation today, its contribution to meeting
the State’s energy needs is now small.
A 1.3 km haulage, with an average grade of 1 in 3, from
the Rubicon Power Station to the top of the spur, still
exists today. A steel tramway used to maintain the
aqueduct between the Rubicon Power Station and the
Rubicon Dam was in operation until the mid 1990’s
when All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) took over the work of
the tramcars. Three impressive trestle bridges form part
of the tramway at Lubra Creek, Beech Creek and at the
Fifteen Thousand Foot Siphon. A fourth trestle bridge is
located at Royston Power Station. While still in
operation today, public access to the power stations and
associated infrastructure is not permitted.
The Rubicon Valley Historic Area has been set aside for
the protection of the area’s historic sites and values.
Timber harvesting was historically the major industry of the
region, beginning in the early 1900’s. Eight sawmills were
operating in the Rubicon forest in the first half of the
century.
15000” Siphon trestle bridge, named because of its distance in feet
from the beginning of the tramline at the top of the haulage, has been
reconstructed to original specifications
The entire hydro-electric scheme has been added to the
Victorian Heritage Register along with many of the
former mill sites and associated tramways which are still
apparent in the forest today.
The first sawmill to operate in the Rubicon forest in 1907. Photo: courtesy
Peter Evans
A network of wooden tramways connected the sawmills to
the edge of the forest. A 2ft gauge steel tramway
connecting Rubicon Forest to the township of Alexandra
carried the sawn timber by steam engine, then in 1935, by
diesel engine. These two diesel engines, the first Victorian
built diesel locomotives, have been restored and are in
operation at the Alexandra Timber Tramway and Museum.
Severe fires in 1939 destroyed a large part of the forest,
its sawmills and associated tramways. Some sawmills
and tramways were reconstructed to salvage the firekilled timber. Damage to the hydro-electricity scheme
was largely restricted to the steel tramway adjacent to
the Rubicon aqueduct that had badly buckled from the
heat and sections of wooden-stave pipes and power
lines. Twelve men lost their lives in the Rubicon forest
during the 1939 fires. The area was again damaged by
fire in 2009 destroying the Beech Creek Trestle Bridge.
The bridge has since been rebuilt.
The Historic Area is the site of the first Victorian hydroelectric power scheme. The Rubicon scheme, completed in
1929, consists of four power stations and associated dams,
aqueducts and pipelines. During the 1930’s, the scheme
© State of Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Page 1
Rubicon State Forest
FS0055
Things to see and do
Rubicon Camping Areas
The Rubicon Valley Historic Area has three camping areas.
A short picturesque walking track connects Kendalls and
The Boys campgrounds. A longer circuit walk also begins
from The Boys Camp.
marks the summit location. This area was an important
source of Bogong moths for the Taungurung people
who occupied the area prior to European settlement.
Bogong moths were a major seasonal food source for
indigenous people.
Snobs Creek Falls
Vehicle access to the beginning of the walk is restricted
during the winter months (see Seasonal Road Closures
for more information), when Barnewall Plains Road is
closed to within a 10 minute walk of Barnewall Plains.
Main Falls 100m one-way
Cascades 25m one-way
Morris Lookout
Snobs Creek Falls is situated in the foothills of Rubicon
State forest. The pristine waters of Snobs Creek are an
important supply to the Snobs Creek Fish Hatchery six
kilometres below. There is a short walk from the carpark to
viewing platforms. The viewing platform at the top of the
falls offers spectacular views as they drop more than 100
metres over a series of rocky outcrops.
Morris Lookout provides stunning views of the
surrounding area, including the townships of Thornton
and Eildon. Access to the lookout is via Herbs Rd. This
road is closed during the winter months (see Seasonal
Road Closures below for more information).
Prior to European settlement, the local Taungurong people
referred to the falls as ‘Bunyarrambite’, which is believed to
mean ‘be against water’ or ’twilight water’. In the early
1860’s, Snobs Creek was also known as Cataract Creek,
but is rumoured to have later changed to ‘Snobs’ after
‘Black’ Brooks, a West Indian man who operated a
bootmakers shop in close proximity to the creek and
present highway. Snob is an old English term used to
describe a bootmaker or boot repairer.
• On Code Red Fire Danger Rating days, State forest
and parks are closed to the public. Do not enter
forests or parks on Code Red Days. If you are
already there when a Code Red day is announced,
you should leave the night before or early in the
morning. For more information contact DELWP (see
below).
• Be responsible for your own safety. Be aware of
extreme weather events, carry your own first aid kit
and let someone know before you go.
• Pit toilets are common at State Forest sites but hand
washing facilities and toilet paper may not be
supplied. Come prepared.
• When on forest roads, be prepared for the
unexpected. Timber trucks, 4WD’s, hikers, horse
riders, trail bike riders, cyclists and native animals
may also be using your chosen track.
An early sketch of
Snobs Creek Falls,
then known as
Bunyarrambite
Falls, by Eugene
von Guerard.
Image courtesy of
Mitchell Library,
State Library of
NSW – PXC
309/14.
Safety – Please read
Seasonal Road Closures
Some roads within the forest are seasonally closed
each year from the Thursday after the Queen’s Birthday
holiday through to the Thursday before Melbourne Cup.
This is to protect track surfaces and the environment,
and for public safety. Road closures may be extended
beyond these dates, depending on weather conditions.
These closures are enforced by a gate or sign.
Contact DELWP for more information on road closures.
For more information
Mt Torbreck Summit Walk
Return 4.2km
l 3 hours
Very Steep
l Rough track, many obstacles
Limited signage l Experienced bushwalkers
Mt Torbreck summit walk begins from the Barnewall Plains
visitor area on Barnewall Plains Rd. Rising to an altitude of
1516m; the views from around the summit are breathtaking
on a clear day and well worth the long climb. A rock cairn
The Department of Environment, Land, Water &
Planning (DELWP) is responsible for managing
Victoria's State Forest. For further information contact
DELWP's Customer Service Centre  136 186 (If you
are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment,
contact us through the National Relay Service on 133
677)
or
visit
DELWP’s
website
at
http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of
Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is
without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your
particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any
error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you
relying on any information in this publication.
© State of Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Page 2
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© State of Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
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This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind
or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on
any information in this publication.
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