John la Gerche Walk.
John la Gerche Walk.
A 3.4-km historic loop trail through Oak Gully and the plantations near Creswick. It combines with the Landcare trail to the west of the carpark. Track can be a bit soggy during winter in some spots
Summary
A 3.4-km historic loop trail through Oak Gully and the plantations near Creswick. It combines with the Landcare trail to the west of the carpark. Track can be a bit soggy during winter in some spots
Description
This commemorative trail was established in 1998 by VSF lecturer Ron Hateley and students of University of Melbourne in collaboration with Victorian Landcare Centre which was based at Sawpit Gully at that time. The historic Sawpit Gully area including the State nursery and plantation from the late 1800's was granted heritage status in 2014.
1704 Views
Points of Interest
1. John La Gerche walking track sign
This commemorative trail was established in 1998 by VSF lecturer Ronald Hateley and students of University of Melbourne.
2. Sawpit Gully State Nursery - 1888
John la Gerche, originally established the State nursery at Sawpit Gully in 1888 to raise seedlings to rehabilitate forests damaged by mining.
3. John La Gerche statue
This commemorative statue of John La Gerche was carved by the Creswick Railway Workshops Association in 2014 from a fallen 112-year old Sequoia sempervirens (Californian Redwood)
4. Nursery Pavilion
The actual date that the unique State Nursery building near Creswick was constructed is unclear, but it’s thought to have been planned in 1909 but not built until 1912.
5. Johnston Fountain
This whimsical design is attributed to John Johnstone who was appointed Superintendent of State Nurseries in about 1901.
6. Stable buildings
The old stables complex was relocated from the original north Creswick Nursery in 1918 using recycled timber, some of which is reputed to have come from the house of Peter Lalor.
7. Pines planted to stablise the soil after gold mining
Pines planted by John la Gerche to stabilise soil disturbed by gold mining in the 1850s
11. Oak gully
many artistic installations
12. Oak Gully
Artistic installations
13. Plus Trees
John la Gerche embarked on a long-term experiment in 1888 to restock the forest after the devasting impacts of gold mining. These two radiata pines are know as plus trees and tall and straight
14. Plus trees
John la Gerche embarked on a long-term experiment in 1888 to restock the forest after the devasting impacts of gold mining. These two radiata pines are know as plus trees
15. VSF students strike gold – 1931.
Two forestry students, Harold Beer and Jim Westcott, discover a large 73 oz gold nugget in Grub Gully in March 1931.
Features
Historical interest
Art and culture
Nature trail
