Also known as Walk Into History, this trail runs along sections of the former Powelltown Tramway east to Nayook West, north over Dowey Spur and then northwest on the Federal Tramway route to Big Pats Creek near Warburton. It can be steep, muddy and hard going. It is not suitable for novice bushwalkers, especially in winter. Signage can be an issue and even experienced bushwalkers should carry maps. The  remnant bridges of the tramway are unsafe. Let them rot in peace and follow the walking tracks through the gullies, but be prepared for leeches in the wet conditions – wear long trousers or gaiters. If you are looking for more family-friendly adventures, see the CONNECTING TRAILS section.

Access Points

• Powelltown: Picnic reserve on Yarra Junction-Noojee Rd (C425) has toilets and picnic tables
• Nayook West: The Bump Tunnel roadside parking area on C425, 7km east of Powelltown at bottom of Big Creek Rd. Watch for Ada Tree sign.
• High Lead car park on Powelltown-Noojee Rd, 11km east of Powelltown on C425
• Dowey Spur Rd off Big Creek Rd
• Starlings Gap: Big Creek Rd will also take you to this camping area
• East Warburton: The trailhead is at Big Pats Recreation Area off Burns Rd

For public transport options go to GET AROUND below

Powelltown to The Bump (6.3km, 1.5-2hr)

• Start in the Powelltown Picnic Area at the western end of town, opposite the DEECA depot. This point is also a trailhead for the Reids Tramline Loop Walk. Follow the main drag (Yarra Junction-Noojee Rd) east for 1km, past the sawmill and Powelly Pub, and turn right into Blake St. After 75m, turn east into Surrey Rd, which follows the old tramline formation, passing an easier entrance to the Reid Tramline walk, to the far end of town.
• At Boys Camp Creek, the Big Bridge crossed a 13m deep gully but you’ll have to use a very humble one and then cross the highway and walk up Mackley Creek Rd, mostly following the tramline formation, for nearly 1km. The unmarked tramway then leaves that road on the right and begins to follow the Little Yarra River.
• Near this point the tramway builders took advantage of an unusual geological feature, called a natural bridge, where the river disappears underground for a short distance. By laying the tracks over this formation, they saved themselves the trouble of building another trestle bridge.
• The trail then follows the river for 3.3km and meets Powelltown-Noojee Rd again at The Bump.
• The Bump was so named because, for many years, it prevented easy travel from the Little Yarra Valley to the LaTrobe River Valley in Gippsland. Initial access was via The Bump, with the log bogies being winched up the steep western side and lowered down the other one by winch. Steam engines were also used on the gentler eastern side. In 1925-26, the Victorian Hardwood Company realigned the tracks for 2.7km, mainly on the Powelltown side, and excavated a 313m tunnel. The Bump Tunnel was about 2.8m wide, 4m high, timber-lined and had a vent shaft to carry smoke from the locos, which is near Powelltown-Noojee Rd. The tunnel entrances were blasted after World War II but the portal approaches are still visible.

The Bump to High Lead carpark (4.2km, 1.5hr)

• The track winds down towards the LaTrobe Valley and then crosses the LaTrobe River for the first time. Immediately beyond the river is the site of Nayook West, the only evidence of which is a sawdust heap. From about 1915 to 1934, the only access was via the Powelltown Tramway, with passengers having to ride on the locomotive or trucks. A school opened in 1920 and a post office in 1926, which might have been part of the general store. There was no electricity
• The track continues east close to the river, crossing it six times before emerging at the High Lead carpark on Powelltown-Noojee Rd.

High Lead carpark to Dowey Spur (4.6km, 1.5-2hr)

• From this carpark, the track again crosses the LaTrobe River, follows it north for about 1km and then crosses and follows Big Creek, with its fine specimens of myrtle beech, north-westwards for 1.4km to the start of the High Lead incline.
• The High Lead is the most difficult section of the walk. The track rises 415m in 1600m, a grade of almost one in four, to the site of a winch station on top of Dowey Spur. From here it is a short walk down to Dowey Spur Rd, a potential car shuffle spot after that steep climb.
• The trail is flanked by mountain ash forest that has regrown since the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires. An intensive salvage operation obtained logs and pulpwood from the fire-killed trees.

Dowey Spur to Starlings Gap (8km, 2.25-2.75hr)

• From Dowey Spur Rd, the High Lead track continues dropping sharply to the Ada River. Immediately across the river is the Ada No. 2 sawmill. Some relics have remained since the 1939 fires, including a boiler.
• Just beyond the mill, the track crosses a small stream and climbs to “Federal Crossing” where the Federal Tramway and Victorian Hardwood Company lines intersected. This point is the start of two short walks, to the sites of the New Federal and New Ada mills (see CONNECTING TRAILS below).
• From Federal Crossing, what was the Federal Tramway winds its way northwest up the Ada River valley to Starlings Gap. Across the valley you may glimpse the remains of some fine trestle bridges on what was part of the Powelltown Tramway. The trail emerges at the picnic area at Starlings Gap, 740m above sea level. There are toilets, camping platforms, firepits and the remains of a winch and boiler from the sawmill that operated here under several names until 1927.

Starlings Gap to Big Pats Creek (9km, 4-5hr)

• On the other side of Big Creek Rd, the trail resumes on the Federal Tramway alignment. There is a huge sawdust heap on the left. The line continues down the northern side of the Mortimore Creek valley for 7km to Burns Rd, crossing an old fireline on the way. A short distance before that fireline, another sawdust heap marks the site of Ezards mill.
• The trail descends at a grade of 1:12, which was fairly steep for tramways. Coming down from the Gap, the locomotives were coupled to the rear of the train for safety reasons. If the loco’s engine or brakes failed, the train of logs would take off but the engine driver had a chance to jump clear.
• Shortly after crossing Burns Rd, the line meets Big Pats Creek and follows it down to the Big Pats Recreation Area, which is close to that road.

CONNECTING TRAILS

Reids Mill Tramway Loop (6km)

This gently climbing trail follows a tramway route up Blackwood Gully to the site of Reids Sawmill, which was in use from 1920 to 1930. The starting point is a parking area on the left side of Powelltown-Noojee Rd, about 500m east of Powelltown, past Messmate Close. The trail runs through magnificent tree ferns and tall mountain ash before entering drier stringybark forest. Care should be taken when crossing the bridges over several small streams. A few relics of the mill can still be seen at the top of the trail. A return loop takes you up to Big Bertha Tk and then down sharply to the Powelltown Picnic Area and east along the road on the Walk Into History route before hitting the tramway. We recommend just going up and back on the tramway, especially in hot weather.

New Federal Mill (4km return or 7km with Ada Tree)

Walking east from the Federal Crossing, or Crossroads, the New Federal Mill site is 2km away, with an impressive collapsed tramway bridge along the way. The New Federal operated for 15 years until 1949, ending the tramway era. A 1.4km walking track links the mill to the Ada Tree, a giant mountain ash believed to be 300 years old for those doing the Walk Into History who want to have a quick look. A further 1.8km along Federal Rd is the Ada Tree Reserve car park, if you are looking for an exit point. The gated entry can also be used for disabled access to the tree walkway, but a key is required.

New Ada Mill (3km return)

This one heads north from Crossroads on the High Lead. There are a few relics at the mill site, which operated from 1931-42.

Richards Tramway Walk (21km return)

William Richards had three goes at building this tramway to his timber mill on Starvation Creek from a narrow block at Big Pats Creek. The first attempt used part of a neighbouring property, generating expensive access rights, the second was too steep and the third had lots of bends to make it up the hill from Burns Rd. You’ll see evidence of the previous efforts as you go up the hill. The trail can be overgrown and muddy and is rated moderate to difficult. You can take an early shower by heading back at Mississippi Fireline (4km), take the link track to Mississippi Creek Rd and walk down that way (15km) or compromise by doing a car shuffle to the junction of Oat Patch Tk and Brahams Rd (11.3km).