Werribee Gorge State Park

Werribee Gorge State Park
Victoria
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)

Bushland at Werribee Gorge
Werribee Gorge State Park
Nearest town or city Bacchus Marsh
Coordinates 37°40′S 144°21′E / 37.66°S 144.35°ECoordinates: 37°40′S 144°21′E / 37.66°S 144.35°E
Established 1978
Area 5.75 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Managing authorities Parks Victoria
Website Werribee Gorge State Park
See also Protected areas of Victoria

Werribee Gorge State Park is a state park in Victoria, Australia.[1][2] It is located near Bacchus Marsh and is popular with bushwalkers and rock climbers, all attracted to its spectacular views and significant geological features.[3]

Werribee Gorge

The main feature of this park is the Werribee Gorge, through which the Werribee River meanders. This gorge has acquired some renown throughout the last century for its geological value.[4][5]

Werribee Gorge has attracted the attention of geologists last century as one of the earliest known ancient glacial deposits, parts of which can be seen by the observant visitor. The 200m deep gorge was formed about a million years ago when movements along a fault in the Earth's crust steepened the river's gradient. Since then the stream has continued to deepen the gorge through underlying rock to ancient sediments deposited in a sea more than 400 million years ago. Other geological events that have since occurred include the advance and retreat of an ice sheet and the inflow of volcanic lava.

There is a spectacular walking track which winds itself through the breathtaking gorge, which popular with bushwalkers and locals alike. It is certainly one of the greatest 'treasures' near Melbourne.

Getting there

Information sign

Werribee Gorge State Park is about 8 km west of Bacchus Marsh and can be approached by two routes. The first is via the Western Freeway and the Pentland Hills Road to Myers Road, a gravel road steep in places. This provides access to the Gorge itself. The second is via Ironbark Road (the Ballan-Ingliston Road) which is approached from the Bacchus Marsh-Anakie Road.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Werribee Gorge State Park", Official website (Parks Victoria), retrieved 2012-01-29
  2. ↑ Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database CAPAD08, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities, Commonwealth of Australia, 2008, retrieved 2012-01-29
  3. ↑ "Werribee Gorge State Park visitor guide" (PDF), Park Notes (Parks Victoria), November 2011, retrieved 2012-01-29
  4. ↑ Lerderderg State Park and Werribee Gorge State Park (PDF), Parks Victoria, February 1999, retrieved 2012-01-30
  5. ↑ Robin Taylor (1 January 1999), Wild Places of Greater Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing, p. 180, ISBN 978-0-9577471-0-4, retrieved 30 January 2012