Blue Lake Circuit – Yellow Gum Park – Plenty Gorge – Victoria

16 Comments

1. 

   G on May 19, 2018 at 7:04 pm

   Would anyone keep fish from there if there are any? Or is it not clean enough?

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     Neil Fahey on May 21, 2018 at 8:48 am

     Hey Greg,

     Will be interesting to see what others respond with here. I have seen people both fishing and swimming in Blue Lake but I personally wouldn’t do either. I’m far from being any kind of expert but it seems pretty polluted to me.

     Cheers
     Neil

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2. 

   ace on February 8, 2016 at 8:12 pm

   first went to the blue lake as a kid with a bunch of mates 10or 11 year olds we would hike from greensborough up through the aqua duct country then through the jane fields and an old dairyfarm to the lake it was an all day adventure some where on the south side there is an old cave we used to go in a couple of hundred metres long closed now there was still the explosive tunnels and some sheds and equiptment here in the late seventies early eighties then in the nineties took the wife and kids there was a couple hippies who let the locals swim there for a donation set it up for camping had some great indian teepees in a nice bushed area for campers ive swam there many times and went back again this year to find it taken over bye the parks not sure how that felt it didn’t seen totally rite the spot id been going to for over 38 years was now littered with bottles bags and all types of rubbish the water didn’t look as clean as it once was there were restricted areas fences and such was a great place I suppose everything changes with progress as kids it was our secrete place we had names for land marks like bold bluff and death cliff loony pass and hells run was a area we run through because it was infested with tiger and brown snakes we would play war games in the bunkers and on the equiptment then later as teens we would take our girl friends there and swim all school holidays what a great place and great memories and is great to know my son still goes there for a swim at times

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     Neil Fahey on February 9, 2016 at 7:49 pm

     Hi Ace,

     Thank you sooooo much for sharing this little slice of history with us! Your comment was an absolutely fascinating read. 🙂 I’ll have to rewrite this post sometime and include your story in it. Wow. Can’t thank you enough.

     Cheers
     Neil

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     Carl G on March 28, 2016 at 11:46 am

     Yes I remember Blue lake during the late 1980’s, As teenagers we’d often gain access via the cliff behind at the back of the old Mill Park riding school.The lake was full of trout back then and we’d always catch plenty.Later on during the 90’s it was taken over by a Christian church group.Who still allowed us access and even to drive down and camp on the odd occasion but the fishing by that stage was starting to die off.I still walk around the lake from time to time but haven’t fished it in years.I hear that the lake has yellow belly and still a few trout and I have seen fish jumping there. I guess I’ll head down and give it a try soon.I remember the Indian teepees and also the cave although we never went inside.We’d often fish and camp on the Plenty river at the back of the riding school and the river then was full of roach,Eels,Redfin and a few small trout as well as blackfish.

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3. 

   m on February 11, 2013 at 3:18 pm

   Hi,

   I just wanted to know if it was safe to swim in the lake?

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     Neil Fahey on February 11, 2013 at 3:30 pm

     I certainly wouldn’t swim there myself. It just seems a bit gross. However, I can’t offer you any solid information though. The fact that Parks Victoria don’t have swimming listed as a suggested activity on their park note is probably a sign. Hope that helps.

     Cheers
     Neil

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     Name on April 24, 2016 at 5:08 am

     I use to live in mount gambier,ya can’t swim in the blue lake,and haven’t been able to swim in it since I can remember…..

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       Neil Fahey on April 24, 2016 at 8:53 pm

       Mount Gambier? We’re talking about the Blue Lake in Melbourne’s Plenty Gorge. Thanks for the comment, though!

       Cheers
       Neil

       Reply
4. 

   Anthony on October 21, 2012 at 4:29 pm

   You guys got me woundering what was in the lake,so i went there today and scuba dived it with a few freinds,about 20meters off the bank its about 3-4meters deep and very brown then a few meters ferther it went compleatly black about (5 meters deep),i think because of all the caol down there.so we stayed in the shalows found some old bikes and other rubbish but no fish life onle a couple of turtles in the weeds.
   Max depth we got inthe center was about 7 meters,

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     Neil Fahey on October 22, 2012 at 9:56 am

     Hi Anthony,

     Thanks for the info! That’s really interesting. I wouldn’t have expected any fish life in there but great to hear there were some turtles!

     Love your work!

     Cheers
     Neil

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5. 

   sean on April 11, 2012 at 2:02 pm

   Anyone know what they used to quarry here? Bluestone?

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     Neil Fahey on April 11, 2012 at 3:12 pm

     Hi Sean,

     Byron’s comment below might give you some clues, but I have no idea personally.

     Maybe someone else will comment and confirm. Make sure you’re subscribed to comment notifications.

     Cheers
     Neil

     Reply
6. 

   Trent on June 7, 2010 at 10:56 am

   Yes, this area is worth a look. It is interesting to think about how the area has been used in the past through the use of land as a quarry and exactly when and therefore how it was mined? Unfortunately, I found little to answer these questions. Nonetheless, if one wanted to have a picnic in the area and take young kids on a short walk I recommend a visit.

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     Byron on February 18, 2012 at 8:35 am

     There used to be an underground explosives store, like a long echoing tunnel, first closed, now removed. This was at the picnic area above the lake.

     The piles of gravel left over from the quarry consist of mainly spherical, light, foamy rock. Many of these pebbles float in water. The cliffs above the lake are vertical yellow strata of sandstone or mudstone, which may have been heated, as it fractures into cubes and rhomboids.

     Quite a magical place.

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       Neil Fahey on February 18, 2012 at 8:39 am

       Awesome! Yes, it’s certainly a bit of a hidden gem in the suburbs. Thanks for the info Byron (and thanks for stopping by).

       Reply