December 2013
Bruthen and surrounds
FS000081
DEPI – Bairnsdale
ISSN 1440-2262
Bruthen area
Walking Trails
Bruthen is situated on the Tambo River approximately
300km east of Melbourne on the Great Alpine Road. State
forest extends to the north, east and west of Bruthen.
Recreation opportunites include a series of walking trails to
the north of Bruthen, cycling or horse riding on the East
Gippsland Rail Trail, visiting Fairy Dell or the Little Dick
Historic Fire Tower.
The Bruthen walking trails meander through State
forest, highlighting local historic features. The trailhead
is signposted off the Great Alpine Road, approximately
2km north of Bruthen.
Indigenous history
The Gunaikurnai are the traditional owners of Gippsland.
The tribe consists of five clans: Krauatungalung,
Brayakaulung, Tatungalung, Brataualung and Brabralung,
the latter is the clan of the Bruthen area.
Today many Aboriginal sites are still present within the
area. These sites consist of scar trees, stone artefacts,
ceremonial grounds, campsites and travelling routes.
European history
The first pastoralists used the Tambo Valley as a route
from the Monaro Plains to the Gippsland Plains in the
1840s. By 1858, a hotel, store and blacksmith catered to
the drovers using the stock routes and also to the travelling
miners. In 1859, the town was laid out at the junction of
these two main routes, next to the river crossing.
Settlers quickly took up the Tambo Valley in the 1860s,
growing wheat, oats and potatoes on the fertile river flats.
By the 1880s, maize and hops had become important
crops, whilst sheep and cattle grazed the local foothills.
The lower Tambo River provided transport for steamboats
hauling produce. Extensive timber resources in the
surrounding foothill forest led to a number of sawmills in
the area.
Local flora and fauna
Box Ironbark forest is dominant around Bruthen and stands
of Warm Temperate Rainforest occur in fire protected
gullies in the Tambo River Gorge, Ramrod Creek
catchment and at Fairy Dell.
Manna gum stands provide important habitat for Koalas
that have been translocated to the area.
This area of State forest also provides important habitat for
large forest Owls, who require large hollow bearing nest
trees for breeding and sufficient density of possums and
gliders to prey upon.
Easy Magic Walk
Return 0.6km
l 10-25mins
Flat
l Well formed track
Clearly signposted
l No steps
No bushwalking experience required
This short walk is a formed gravel path with rest stops
and interpretive signs along the way. There are
opportunities along the way to appreciate the forest
setting and wildflowers particularly in spring.
McLeans Loop
Return 1.6km
l 20-35mins
Short steep hills
l Formed track, some obstacles
Clearly signposted
l No steps
No bushwalking experience required
This walk loops off Easy Magic Walk and follows the
service track behind residential properties then turns left
before Engineers Road through the forest to return to
the Easy Magic Walk.
Explosive Magazine Loop
Return 2.5km
l 45 mins
Short steep hills
l Formed track, some obstacles
Clearly signposted
l No steps
Some bushwalking experience recommended
Also looping off Easy Magic Walk, the track passes
through undulating forest and crosses gullies and forest
roads. The walk passes a small concrete hut which was
for storing explosives for road building. The walk heads
back through the forest towards the Easy Magic Walk.
Berry Farm Loop
Return 3.2km
l 1 hour
Short steep hills
l Formed track, some obstacles
Clearly signposted
l No steps
Some bushwalking experience recommended
This walk loops off Explosive Magazine Loop and
heads North for 1 km before reaching Engineers Road.
It then passes adjacent to agricultural land, including a
berry farm and heads South back to join the McLeans
Loop.
© State of Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries
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Bruthen and surrounds
Plane Crash Loop
Return 5.3km
l 1 3/4 hour
Short steep hills
l Formed track, some obstacles
Clearly signposted
l No steps
Some bushwalking experience recommended
This walk extends off Explosive Magazine Loop and climbs
to a ridge before dropping into a ferny gully and passes by
the site of a former plane crash and includes a creek
crossing. It provides a lovely extended walk through the
forest.
FS000081
the night before or early in the morning. For more
information contact DEPI (see below).
 Campfire safety – Use fireplaces where provided.
The fire must be attended at all times by a person
with the capacity and means to extinguish it. For
solid fuel fires, the ground and airspace within 3m of
the outer perimeter of the fire must be clear of
flammable material. Ensure the fire is extinguished
with water before leaving. If it’s cool to touch it is
safe to leave.
 Campfires are prohibited on days of Total Fire
Ban. Only gas or electric appliances that have been
designed and commercially manufactured
exclusively for cooking may be used for meal
preparation on a Total Fire Ban Day provided:
- the ground and airspace within 3m of the
appliance is clear of flammable material
- a minimum of 10 litres of water is on hand
- it is in a stable postion when in use
It is your responsibility to know if a Total Fire
Ban is declared. If in doubt, do not light a
campfire.
 Be responsible for your own safety. Be aware of
extreme weather events, carry your own first aid kit
and let someone know before you go.
Explosive Magazine
East Gippsland Rail Trail
The East Gippsland Rail Trail follows the former railway
line between Bairnsdale and Orbost. It is 97km long,
passing through rural landscapes, State forest, with views
of the Gippsland Lakes. The trail is suitable for cyclists,
walkers and horse riders.
Fairy Dell
Fairy Dell Flora Reserve protects an important area of
Warm Temperate Rainforest. Managed by Parks Victoria,
the 80ha reserve contains a picnic area and walking track.
Little Dick Tower
This fire spotting tower was built in 1940 by the Forest
Commission in response to the devastating 1939 bushfires.
The 19m high tower is located 4.5km up Mount Little Dick
Road, which runs off the Great Alpine Road approximately
3km north of Bruthen. Access up the structure has been
closed to the public.
Safety information
 On Code Red Fire Danger Rating days, parks and State
forest are closed to the public. Do not enter parks or
forests on Code Red Days. If you are already there
when a Code Red day is announced, you should leave
 Forest roads are public roads and normal road rules
apply. Drive as if you were expecting a vehicle to
come around the next bend.
General Information
 There is no rubbish collection service, so please take
your rubbish home.
 Dogs are allowed in State forest but must be under
direct control at all times and are expected to be on
a leash in picnic and camping areas or when near
other visitors
 Motor vehicles including motorcycles must not be
driven off formed roads or on walking tracks. All
vehicles must be registered and drivers licensed
For more information
The Department of Environment and Primary Industries
(DEPI) is responsible for managing Victoria's State
Forest. For further information contact DEPI's
Customer Service Centre  136 186 (TTY: 1800 555
667) or visit DEPI’s website at
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its officers
do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly
appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any
error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information
in this publication.
© State of Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries
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