The original cutting was made by pick, shovel and blasting powder, but was later deepened using dynamite creating the gorge you see today. Yackandandah is Jiatmathang country. The Aboriginal word for the Yackandandah area is Dhudhuroa. To the Dhudhuroa people Yackandandah means “one boulder on top of another at the junction of two creeks”. European settlement followed the trails of Hume and Hovell from 1824. The discovery of gold late in 1852 began the rush of alluvial miners. Wander along the twisting trail beside the creek with its gentle cascades and shady trees overhanging the trail. Keep a lookout for a local platypus near the tennis courts. The top of the gorge is steep and requires the walker to be sure footed and moderately fit. For those unable to manage the full trail, there is access to the gorge from Bells Flat Road. The trail is signposted from the car park and takes about five minutes.
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Historic Walks
Grade 2
3.5 km
75 minutes
Grade 1: No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Walks no greater than 5km.
Grade 2: No bushwalking experience required. The track is hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km.
Grade 3: Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20km.
Grade 4: Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
Grade 5: Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20km.
The Gorge Walk will take you along the historic gorge, built as a tail race to sluice gravel and sand in the hope of finding gold.
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