2007 - O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail

2007 - O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail - Overview

The official Parks Vic Website for the Trail is at

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/315628/Park-note-Yarra-Ranges-NP-OShannassy-Aquaduct-Trail.pdf

Now part of the Yarra Ranges National Park, the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail is a long, step-on, step-off 27 km walking/cycling/horse route starting at Parrot Rd, Launching Place, and ending at the O'Shannassy Weirr, about 80 km east of Melbourne, past the town of Warburton.

The Aqueduct was constructed between 1911 and 1915, and decommissioned in 1997. The maintenance track, known as Road 18, has been opened up progressively for walkers, horse-riders and cyclists, following transfer of land ownership from Melbourne Water to Parks Victoria.

The Trail passes through magnificent Mountain Ash forest, past fern gullies, with excellent views across the Yarra Valley towards Mt Little Joe and the mountains near Big Pats Creek. It winds its way around the base of Mt Donna Buang, Mt Victoria and Ben Cairn, passing many aqueduct engineering works, bridges, syphons, huts, distance marker posts and old maintenance sheds.

New access gates for walkers and cyclists have been built at various locations along the route, with adjacent car parks, and some with picnic areas.

From west to east, the Sectors are:

Parrot Rd to Don Rd 4 km
Don Rd to Dee Rd 5.3 km
Dee Rd to Sussex St 4 km
Sussex St to Yuonga Rd 3 km
Yuonga Rd to Donna Buang Rd 2 km
Donna Buang Rd to Cement Creek 4.8 km
Cement Creek Rd to O' Shannassy Weir 7.6 km

Sadly, there has been massive encroachment of vegetation, fallen trees, branches, and weeds in sections of the Aqueduct.

The following Pages (click in Navigation bar at left!) offer a virtual tour easterly all the way to the Weir!

Points of Interest along the Trail

These are the most important features passed along the Trail, travelling from west to east.

Parrot Rd - car park

Footbridge Bridge over Don River

Staircase to Don Rd

Don Rd - car park

Pipe converts to channel

Platts Creek crossing

Frenchmans Creek crossing

Kenedys Creek crossing

McKechnies Creek crossing

Management Hut

Syphon

Dee River bridge

Dee Rd - car park

Harrisons Creek crossing

Walker Creek crossing

Stockdale property - entry

Dirty Gully Creek - crossing

Sussex St - small car park

Ythan Creek crossing

Brookfield/Parbury/Anderson Mill - bridge

Mt Victoria Track

Richards Mill bridge

Brisbane Creek crossing

Yuonga Rd - car park

Rocky Creek crossing

Donna Buang Rd - small car park

Robinson's Mill bridge crossing (sign shows "Pickersgills")

Pipe emerges as open channel - later converts to pipe

Syphon

Walkway (built 2012 over pipe route)

West Cement Creek crossing

Cement Creek Basin

Cement Creek Rd - car park

Cement Creek crossing

Management hut

Pipe converts to open channel

O'Shannassy Weir (no public car access)