148 AuDAs, The Victorian Grampians. [voi'^'kxix 



upon a towering pedestal on the dividing line of the river 

 basins of Victoria, with the world far, far beneath, the 

 beautiful fertile area of the Victoria Valley stretching in 

 seemingly limitless distance to the south-west, and to the 

 north-east the basin of the Little Wimmera, flat sandy 

 country through which this little giant works its way, gaining 

 volume and breadth in progress. 



A delightful change of scenery, and welcome rest for tired 

 mountain climbers, may be enjoyed by spending a few days 

 in the vicinity of the " Borough Hut " (970 feet), which is 

 situated at the head of the Stawell water supply and about 

 five miles south of " Belllield." Here one may wander at will 

 through mossy glens and along the banks of watercourses, 

 where creepers interlacing above the stream hang floral 

 festoons, and beautiful native shrubs jostle for pride of place. 

 All this vegetation is in primeval loveliness, man so far not 

 disputing with Nature in her reign supreme. A Rhamnaceous 

 shrub, Trymalium D'Altoni, has been named after a family 

 long resident of the district — the Messrs. D 'Alton. An 

 uncommon shrub, Conospermuni Mitchelli, quite one of the 

 best to be met with in the Australian bush, was here seen 

 in prolific splendour; its graceful foliage, surmounted by 

 huge white flower-heads, gleamed in snowy purity that 

 seemed to be accentuated by frequent contrast with the deep 

 magenta flowers of Baucra sessiliflora, Showy Bauera. 



Still further variety and yet wilder forms of Nature are 

 to be viewed during a stroll to Barbican Kock, which towers 

 several hundreds of feet overhead and descends fully the 

 same distance into a valley, where the lovely stream known 

 as Barney's Creek winds through almost impenetrable under- 

 growth. Along the side of the Barbican the track of the 

 water-flume has been cut, and at the end crosses Barney's 

 Creek by means of a siphon. The view of the water 

 issuing from the siphon, although the work of man rather 

 than Nature, is one to be greatly admired. About half a mile 

 further along stands Barney's Castle, which is formed by two 

 high walls of rock rising sheer from the water's edge and 

 leaving just sufficient opening for a gateway between. By 

 following the v/ater-race the Grevillea and Bovine Creeks are 

 reached, and those lovers of Nature who are sufficiently 

 hardy to struggle with her in her wilder forms may start 

 from this point and follow Fyans Creek to its source, where 

 a tiny stream will be found trickling from beneath some rocks 

 at the foot of mighty Mount William. 



To climb this great mountain, the King of the Grampians, 

 3,830 feet in height, is a task not to be lightly undertaken, but 

 those who do accomplish its ascent will pronounce it to be 

 the crowning point of beauty in this glorious mountain area, 

 as it undoubtedly is. The best starting point is from the 



