TOPOGRAPHY OF VICTOR J.I. 



405 



in the auriferous region of which Ballarat is the centre, whence it takes a north-easterly 

 direction as far as Inverleigh, the point of junction with the Yarrowee ; shortly after- 

 wards it curves round to the south-east, and ultimately discharges its waters into Lake 

 Connewarre, having an outlet to the ocean through the Barwon Heads. 



The Erskine, the Barrum, the Parker, the Calder, the Aire and the Gellibrand all 

 have their sources in the coast ranges, and empty themselves into the ocean the first 

 at Loutit Bay and the last 

 at Point Ronald. Rising, as 

 a general rule, at a great 

 altitude, their downward 

 course lies' through gorges 

 heavily timbered with pep- 

 permint, box, messmate, 

 iron-bark, blue-gum, beech 

 and blackwood some of 

 them two hundred feet high 

 except in positions which 

 are much exposed to the 

 south-easterly gales, where 

 stunted scrub and ti-tree 

 take the place of the noble 

 trees that flourish in more 

 sheltered situations ; while 

 tree-ferns ascend to the very 

 summits of the secondary 

 spurs. Beautiful cascades are 

 of frequent occurrence, those 

 on the Erskine River, which 

 are easily accessible from 

 Lome, being the most 

 notable in this respect. 



The Hopkins, which en- 

 ters the sea about a mile to 

 the eastward of Warrnam- 

 bool, takes its rise on the 

 southern slopes of the 



Pyrenees, in the neighbourhood of Mount Ararat, and receives, in its southward progress, 

 the waters of a dozen tributaries, the most important of these being Mount Emu Creek, 

 which heads to the Great Dividing Range. The Hopkins is a favourite stream with 

 anglers. It flows through a pretty country, and the scenery upon its banks is agreeably 

 diversified now presenting high cliffs, tapestried with shrubs and creepers ; now a sylvan 

 landscape, and anon undulating pastures sprinkled with sleek cattle or fleecy sheep, and 

 then a rising township, with its cottages clustering round a primitive church ; or a country 

 mansion, like that of Hopkins Hill, framed in a stately zone of trees, and not unworthy 



THE HOPKINS RIVER. 



