Just in last the 2 weeks Marysville (Victoria) has been re-opened to the public, along with a single track thru the Toolangi
forrest so we went on a mild mostly 2wd loop thru these areas in our RAV4 (which I'm in trouble over, for not washing).
Leaving Yara Glen early we went via Healsville up over the Black spur.
That classic view of the tall trees is now almost back, if a bit blackened.
Down into
Narbethong and the first of many burnt out properties appears.
Coming into Marysville though things become very depressing.
Our family had a guest house complex there in which there was loss of life and it was quite a shock to see how little remains.
Even now, 2 months later some guests have significant guilt feelings over why some, but not all escaped.
Just standing there amongst the rubble, the contrasts in life seem to leapt out at you.
Next to me was a rusting tub of a commerical dish washer I had spent hours on trying to make work properly. Nearby two large trees that snapped in half lay across a corner of the charred buildings remains.
On the north end, a mostly empty untouched swimming pool complete with unburnt plastic chairs, and a submerged straw hat.
Amongst the blackened trees, vivid green re-growth is appearing on the many ferns.
There are a few buildings left in town but from where we are your view would expect to encompass over 50 houses, and not a single one was standing.
The classic old structure won't be re-built and all we could do was take some plant cuttings to propagate as a reminder of Mountain Lodge.
We then went down to the
bakery. An incredible lone survivour of the carnage.
We sat there enjoying great cappicino's and apple pie whilst immediately across the road an excavator smashed its huge bucket into the remnants of the Cumberland resort. The damage will take a long time to clear as before each swing of the bucket a fire truck would move in and douse the area with water
to reduce hazardous dust.
I'd encourage anyone to take this drive, buy something at the
bakery, and also drive around the streets.
Just like in normal times though, don't enter others properties and thats all you need to be aware of.
Take the drive also because telling people doesn't really lock in the fire safe message like actually experiencing the devastation.
From Marysville we went to
Buxton and down to
Narbethong again via burnt out properties of two other friends.
On the way passing a line of untouched poplar trees, so beautiful and green in the sunlight that its hard to re-concile them with Marysville.
From the devastation of
Narbethong you turn east on to plantation rd and the dirt road of the
forrest drive proper.
Here the scene changes damatically, all the fire damage is gone and your back into the beautiful state
forrest and adjoining
young pine plantations.
It easy not to get lost as almost all other roads are signed "Road closed"
A few little 4wd tit-bits remain like Anderson track and a few short dead end sections.
Again, its easy to get lost in this
forrest but all you have to do now is not drive past any
road closed signs (mostly A4 sized signs on short pickets).
Sticking to the obvious main dirt road you wind up to the top of the range.
Black range road is closed and you swing right onto Yellowdindi rd and via Xylophone
Bridge.
South down Murrindindi rd and onto Sylvia creek rd which comes out onto the bitumen of Myres crk rd just east of Toolangi.
We hear that an estimated 1 million animals are dead thru Black Saturdays fire-zone and it was hearting to again see some lovely untouched
forrest and also several wallabies and even the odd Lyrebird.
West of Toolangi the fire damage begins again as you head towards Kinglake.
If you can't do the whole drive just get to Kinglake via Yarra Glen.
Its in bad, but better shape, but I warn you the cappicino's aren't as good as in Marysville or
Buxton.
Total Time 4 hours Yarra Glen/Yarra Glen.
Reference map Rooftops Toolangi- Black range.
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