PaddysRangesStatePark
VisitorGuide
ThisbeautifulBox-Ironbarkforestbursts intocolourwithspringwildflowersandisdottedwith relicsandremindersofanindustrious past.Visitorstodaycanretrace thesteps of 'Paddy',a minerwhoreputedlyroamedthisareainthe 1800s.Theseparksremainas fragmented
remnantsofbushlandtoencouragethereturnofendangeredplantsandanimals.
Prospecting
Recreational prospecting is onlypermitted in designatedareas. Prospectors must holda current Miner’sRight. Please do not drive off road, and fill any holes createdby prospecting.
Refer to the “Prospecting Guide” for more information.
CautionCaremustbetaken asdangerous mine shaftsoccurthroughoutthepark.
Paddys’friends and history
Brush-tailedPhascogaleorTuan,oneofthethreatenedspeciesfoundinPaddysRanges
TheDjaDjaWrung Aboriginalpeoplewere the custodians of the area prior to European settlement. Many of the sites in this area are sacredand spiritually important including rock rainwaterwells and scar trees.
Enjoying the park
Bushwalking
Apleasant track suitable for prams and wheelchairsbegins at the picnic area andwinds through the forest to an oldeucalyptus distillery dam -40 minsreturn.
Enjoy a springwildflowerwalkalong the self- guided InterpretiveTrail from the picnic area.Ortakea forest walk from the campground to the picnicarea.
Picnics
Settling Ponds Track Picnic Area has tables, toilets andwoodbarbecues. Werecommend bringingyourown firewood.
Camping
KarriTrack camping areahas toilets and fireplaces. No fees apply, butit is advisable to
contactthe rangerto ensuresite availability.
Horseridingis permitted on formed open roads,buthorsesmustnotbetaken onwalking tracks.Horses mustnot remain inthe park overnight
Whowereyou,Paddy?ThepeopleofMaryborough knewyou simply as an Irishman, so the area southwest of thetownwhereyou lived, some timebefore the 1880s,became knownas PaddysRanges.
From the 1840s the areawas used for grazing,goldmining,timber harvesting,eucalyptusoil and honeyproduction. In 1951, theMaryborough Field Naturalists Club beganpushing for the protection ofthe parks uniqueBox-Ironbark forest. In 1989, PaddysRanges State Park was reserved.
The park was increased to 1,954hain October 2002to conserve andenhance what remains oftheBox-Ironbark forestsandwoodlandsofnorthcentral Victoria.
Befirereadyandstaysafe
Manyparksandforests arelocated in highfirerisk areas.Ondaysofforecast CodeRedFire Dangerthisparkwillbeclosedforpublicsafety.
Ifyou arealreadyintheparkyoushould leavethe night before orearlyin the morning for your own safety.
Closure signs will be erected and rangerswill patrolwherepossible, howeveryoumay not receivea personalwarning that the park is closed so check thelatest conditionsbycalling 131963 orvisit
For up to date information onfires in Victoria or generalfire safetyadvice call theVictorianBushfireInformationLineon1800240667.
FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformationCentre
on131963orvisitourwebsiteat
PADDYS RANGESSTATE PARK
eMaldon
ToStArnaud
ToDunolly
Avoca ee
Alma
eMaryboroughCastlemaine
CluneseBeaufort
e
eDaylesfordeCreswick
ToBendigo
e
Ballarat
C275
C277
Moonlight Flat
ParksVictoriaOffice
To Castlemaine
B180
Maryborough
To Avoca
B180
MARYBOROUGH REGIONAL PARK
GOLDFIELDS RESERVOIR
Adelaide Lead
GOLDFIELDS TK
CENTENARY RESERVOIR
CampingArea
SING
BillyButtonsHillsee
PADDYS RANGES STATE PARK
C287
PicnicArea
WHIPSTICK
TAGGART
Daisy Hill
ToAmherst
ToClunes, Ballarat
PaddysRangesStatePark MaryboroughRegionalPark
Recreational Facilities
05001000
NMETRE S
Highway Sealedroad
Unsealedroad
Vehiculartrack(4wd) Walkingtrack
StatePark
Regional Park State Forest Water body
Barbecue-Wood Camping
Facilitiesforpeople withdisabilities
Fireplace
Parkinformation Picnictable Toilets
Water
Cartography by Spatial Vision 2004 M/5367
*
eMELBOURNE
Forfurtherinformation
ParksVictoriaInformationCentre
Call131963
orvisittheParksVictoriawebsite
CentralGoldfieldsVisitorInformationCentre
CnrAlmaandNolanStreetsMaryboroughVic3465
Freecall:1800356511
Caringforthe environment
Helpuslookafter yourparkbyfollowingtheseguidelines:
Pleasetakerubbishawaywithyouforrecyclinganddisposal
Allnativeplantsandanimalsareprotectedbylaw.Pleasedonotdisturbthem
inanyway
Dogsandotherpetsarenotpermittedinthepark
FirearmsareprohibitedLightfiresonlyinfireplaces
provided.Nofires,including
gasbarbecuesmaybelitonadayofTotalFireBan
PaddysRangesStateParkisin
theNorthCentralTotalFireBanDistrict
Itis yourresponsibilitytoknowifitisadayof TotalFireBan.Ifindoubtcallthe
VictorianBushfireInformationLineon1800240667
Parkclosures-Bepreparedtoleaveearlyasextremeweathermaycausetheclosureofsomeparkareas
forpublicsafety
Collectionoffirewoodisprohibitedfromthepark
Vehicles,includingmotorbikes,mayonlybeusedonformedopenroads.Driversmustbelicensedandvehiclesregisteredandroadworthy
Beself-sufficientwithdrinkingwater.Carryitinand/orknowhowtomakeuntreatedwater
safefordrinking
Ahavenforanimalsandplants Birds: More than 140 bird species have been recorded in thepark includingthe rareSwift
Parrot.Floweringeucalyptsattracttheseparrots
to migratefrom Tasmaniaannually between autumnand spring.
The GreyShrike-thrush, Golden andRufousWhistlers arebest identifiedby their beautiful song.PeregrineFalcons, a threatened species in Victoria, nest in the parkandmajestic Wedge- tailed Eaglescan oftenbe seen circlinghigh above.
PeregrineFalcon
Wallabies,kangaroos andechidnas aremore usually seen than the nocturnal mammals such as possums and antechinus - a small, carnivorous marsupial.The park also provides habitat for the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale, sometimes calledtheTuan.
Wildflowers:Over230speciesofwildflowershavebeen listed in this fine example of Box- Ironbarkforest, includingaboutthirtyspecies oforchidsuch asthis purple Wax-lip Orchid.
Purple Wax-lipOrchid
GoldenWattle is the mainunderstoreyspecies,alongwith GoldDustWattle and BushPeas.Duringspring these plants provide the forests true ‘golden’ treasures andperfume.
Goldenwattle
Box-Ironbark trees are not one, but several differenttypes oftree.Boxeucalyptus trees have a light flakybark.The park has Red, Yellowand GreyBox species.Ironbark trees areeasily distinguishedby their dark, deeply grooved rough black bark.
UseParkweb to plan your visit Access information about Victoria's parks,rivers andbays, cultural sites, - print parknotes and find
local tour guides -
Victoria'sNational Parks Explorer's Guide
This comprehensiveguidebook isa must forall outdoor enthusiasts. Call131963toorderyour copy.
Other parkstovisit
PercydaleHistoricReserve
Enjoy spectacular views,goldfieldsheritagetour andpicnicsin thePyrenees Ranges, 10 kilometreswest of Avoca.
CastlemaineDiggingsNationalHeritagePark
This is Australia's first National Heritage Park harbouringfascinating talesof agolden pastand retaining muchof its gold-rushcharacter. The Mount Alexander Diggings Trailtakesyou to19 heritage sites inand around the park. Picnic areas, campground and mineral spring facilities are also available.
Location and Access
PaddysRanges State Park is 170kmnorth west ofMelbourne, just south of Maryborough. Sealed roads surroundthe park and there are good gradedroads tovisitor facilities.
December2010
PrintedonAustralian-made100%recycledpaper