120 On Railiuay Gradients. 



marked in the distant horizon. To the north-east is Mount 

 Disappointment and the Plenty Range, ending a view at once 

 bold and picturesque ; to the north-north-west towers Mount 

 Macedon, the Olympus of the forest : massive, abrupt, and grand, 

 even in shadowy outline, beyond whose heights the eye cannot 

 wander ; to the west is Mount Blackwood looming in the dis- 

 tance, a landmark almost as familiar as Macedon itself. These 

 mountains are all situate and form the apex of the Watershed, 

 from whence all the rivers in Victoria take their rise ; those 

 to the north draining into the Murray, and those to the south 

 following their various ducts to the sea. 



Between the Coast Range and Melbourne, another peculiarity 

 in the features of the country occurs, presenting an outline 

 scarcely less marked than the coast range. This has been found 

 an equal, if not a greater obstacle to encounter. What I allude 

 to is the sudden elevation of the Table Land at the extreme 

 boundaries of the plains and entrance to the timbered country. 

 This singular freak of nature is more prominently marked in 

 some localities than others, but still preserves its entirety of 

 character, approach it in whatever direction you may. To the 

 north, it stands up in high relief and bars the way ; at Sunbury, 

 or north-west, it is again observable, and here prominently so, 

 the plains on the south-west side of Jackson's Creek being 1209 

 feet above low water, Hobson's Bay ; whilst, in a northerly direc- 

 tion, 4 miles distant, a rise of 300 feet has been effected. In 

 the west at Bacchus Marsh, it forms the Pentland Hills ; is again 

 observable at the Anakies ; then at the Moorabool, and still in 

 the far west. 



As I before stated, this sudden rise in the table land presents 

 to the Engineer a difficulty second only to the passage of the 

 dividing range, and is a point to which I will especially draw 

 your attention. 



I now ask you to follow me, whilst endeavouring to pourtray 

 the salient features of the country, between the coast range and 

 the Murray. 



The Murray forms the channel into which all the waters of 

 North Victoria drain, and presents on all sides the lowest ground 

 in the interior : hence, it may be inferred, that the summit of 

 the hills being passed, no obstacles will present themselves in 

 following a northern route. 



This, however, is not the case, as will be apparent to any one 

 who has possessed himself of the information on this head, in the 

 Railway Report of the Honorable the Surveyor General ; there, 

 it is most clearly shewn, that the difficulties of ascent and descent 



