Walhalla - simply my favourite town

general May 19, 2004

This tiny ex-gold-mining town clings to the side of a very steep valley in West Gippsland. It once boasted a population of hundreds, if not thousands. Today it’s about 20.

Wahalla has hung on, literally, since 1862. It has survived the mining bust – nearly 90 years ago – floods and fires. It only got the power on in the 1990s.

I usually stay at the nearby village of Rawson at the Rawson Village Scenic Holiday Resort. The price usually includes breakfast. They also serve a dinner in the dining room (hall!) – at extra cost. But all very reasonable, particularly considering when I last looked, there was nowhere else to eat in town.

My advice would be to drive up either Friday after work or early Saturday morning. Should take about 2 hours.

Things to do:

Visit the Museum
The Long Tunnel Extended mine tour – a must
Do a town walk with a brochure (comparing the old photographs with today. Amazing!)
The Copper Mine tour etc (run by Mountain Top adventures – good people, great tours). They do the driving in their 4WDs.
Visit the Thomson Dam – Melbourne’s main water supply

Directions: Follow the Princes Freeway south-east out of Melbourne. Pass Warragul and take the Moe exit. Follow the signs north to Walhalla. Roads are all asphalt – for all of the above – but they become gravel past (north) of Walhalla. 4WD strongly suggested for this section.

Read up a bit first if you can before heading there. Will make it more rewarding. The Walhalla Heritage and Development League would be a great place to start. Also my very own contribution to the excellent Wiki Internet Encylopedia may be of value.