The tall gums are such a distinctive part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park

Ferntree Gully, Upper (including Ferntree Gully)
Suburb associated with Dandenong Ranges National Park
Upper Ferntree Gully is 35 km east of Melbourne along the Burwood Highway. Essentially a suburb on the fringe of Melbourne, it sits adjacent the southern section of Dandenong Ranges National Park.

The mountains, which reach a high point of 633 m above sea-level, consist of volcanic lava. They experience high rainfall as prevailing westerly winds rise when they hit the range and then cool to produce rain. The combination of rainfall and rich volcanic soils renders the soil fertile and the ranges are cloaked in vast tracts of forests and fern gullies, as well as some distinguished and renowned gardens. Potatoes, flowers, bulbs and berry fruits are produced for commercial purposes in the area.

The Wurrundjeri people once passed their winters near the Dandenong Ranges. They passed through the area en route to the Yarra Valley where they spent their summers on the banks of the Yarra River. Other sources place the Woiwurung people in the area prior to European settlement.

The first European known to set foot in the Dandenongs was botanist Daniel Bunce who was drawn from Melbourne by the image of the looming western slopes in 1839. Guided by a party of Aboriginal people he climbed Mt Corhanwarrabul (628 m) and Mt Dandenong (633 m) - the two highest peaks in the ranges. Burkes Lookout (see entry on Olinda) is now situated atop the former. Another botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller, who was responsible for the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, also explored the area in the 1850s.

The forests drew timbergetters in the early days of European settlement who supplied a growing market in Melbourne. The demands of this same market later saw some of the forest cleared for the establishment of farms.

Ferntree Gully was named after an 1860 painting of the local forest. Being so close to Melbourne, the area became a popular attraction in the 1860s and, in recognition, it was set aside for public recreation in 1882. This reserve was expanded in 1927 when Ferntree Gully National Park (the nation's second National Park) was declared. It became part of Dandenong Ranges National Park in 1987. An animal sanctuary was created at Ferntree Gully in 1931 but it was phased out in the 1950s.

Small sections of land were first opened for settlement in the area in the 1880s and the railway arrived at Ferntree Gully in 1889. A narrow-gauge railway from to Gembrook was opened in 1900 and it now forms the basis of the Puffing Billy railway line (see entry on Belgrave). A road to the summit of Mt Dandenong was made suitable for coaches in 1904 and the first motor coaches made the trip in 1922.

The Upper Ferntree Gully Market is held every Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (and from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from April to September).

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
The Dandenong Ranges and Knox Tourism Information Centre is located at 1211 Burwood Highway at Upper Ferntree Gully, tel: (03) 9758 7522.

Dandenong Ranges National Park
Dandenong Ranges National Park (3215 ha) is a very attractive and popular attraction which beckons Melburnians who can gaze upon its western slopes on a clear day. It offers opportunities for walking, sightseeing, picnicking, nature observation and car touring. More than 350 plant species have been recorded, along with 130 bird species, 31 species of mammals (most are nocturnal), 21 reptile species and nine amphibian species.

The Park is divided into five sections. The south-western section, covering 450 ha, is known as Ferntree Gully which was named after an 1860 painting of the local forest. It is noted for its walking tracks, its views of Melbourne, its ferneries, eucalypt forests, picnic areas, birdlife (including lyrebirds, crimson rosellas and eastern whipbirds), mammals (including wallabies, bandicoots, echidnas and possums) and its flora, including 47 species of native orchids, native grasses, eucalypts and shrubs such as bush pea and austral indigo.

To access the Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground turn off the Burwood Highway onto Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd and take the first left. It has parking, toilets with disabled access, drinking water, picnic tables and shelters, electric barbecues, a ranger's office, information boards, a playground and walking tracks. The Living Bush Nature Walk (3 km) is denoted by markers and information sheets describe the plants along the walk. The Ferntree Gully Track (5 km return) follows steep, winding paths northwards through ferneries, blackwoods and manna gums and up the Thousand Steps to the top of the range at One Tree Hill Picnic Ground, offering excellent views.

To access One Tree Hill Picnic Ground by car continue north along the Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd and turn left either into Churchill Drive (at Tremont) or, further north again, into One Tree Hill Rd. Both lead to the picnic area which has parking, toilets, water, wood barbecues (no wood is provided), picnic tables and shelters.

From One tree Hill Picnic Ground you can take either the Ferntree Gully Track south to the Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground, or the One Tree Hill Track (3.2 km return). The latter passes through stringybark and peppermint gum forest. Pea shrubs bloom in spring. Notes are available on some of the tracks.

The picnic grounds are open to vehicles from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (May to October) and until 6.00 p.m. the rest of the year. There is an entry fee for cars at the Ferntree Picnic Ground on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. You can catch Bus no.698 from Upper Ferntree Gully or walk the one kilometre from the Upper Ferntree Gully Train Station.

For general information and literature contact Parks Victoria on 131 963 or, if you require more detailed information contact the office at Upper Ferntree Gully on (03) 9758 1342. You can also visit the Parks Victoria website on www.parks.vic.gov.au.

Ambleside Park
At Ambleside Park there is an exhibit of over 2000 historic artefacts housed in a 19th-century homestead with antique farming implements displayed in the outbuildings. It is open Friday to Sunday from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. at 3 Olivebank Rd at Ferntree Gully. To get there turn off the Burwood Highway into Railway Rd, follow it through to Forest Rd and head north for about 2 km then turn right into Olivebank Rd. There is an admission fee and group tours can be organised by prior arrangement, tel: (03) 9758 6722.

The Heidelberg School Art Tour is exceptional. This plaque is at Kallista.

Heidelberg School Artists Trail
This route is designed to take interested parties to the approximate sites depicted in the paintings of those associated with the Heidelberg School (i.e., Arthur Streeton, Walter Withers, Louis Buvelot, Tom Roberts, Clara Southern, David Davies, Emanuel Phillips Fox, Charles Conder, Tudor St George Tucker, Eigene Von Guerard, May Vale and Jane Price).

At each such site there is a reproduction of the relevant painting, providing insight into the artist's interpretation of the landscape and into how the landscape has changed since that time. It passes largely along the Yarra River, through Heidelberg, Bulleen, Templestowe, Eltham, Diamond Creek, Research, Warrandyte, passing through Ringwood and Montrose, en route to Kalorama, Olinda, Kallista and Ferntree Gully. There is a guiding brochure which can be obtained from Banyule Council (tel: 03 9490 4222) or the project's organiser, tel: (03) 9458 5955 or (0418) 356 768.

	Tourist Information
	Dandenong Ranges and Knox Visitor Information Centre 1211 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 7522 Facsimile: (03) 9758 7533
	Motels
	Ferntree Gully Motor Inn 1132 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 0111 Facsimile: (03) 9758 0150 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Fern Gully Hotel 1130 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 6544
	Royal Hotel Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 2755
	Zagame's Royal Hotel Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 2268
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Fern 'n' Chestnut 1434 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd Mt Dandenong Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3767 Telephone: (03) 9751 1064 Facsimile: (03) 9751 1064 Rating: ****1/2
	The Villa Renaissance 75 Underwood Rd Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9752 2169 Facsimile: (03) 9758 0551 Rating: ****1/2
	Restaurants
	Billabong Family Bistro Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 7446
	Caesar's Italian Cuisine Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 0544
	Captain America's Hamburger Heaven Forest Rd Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 0711
	Farfield Restaurant 1132 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 1484
	Ferntree Gully Motor Inn 1132 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 0111
	Jade Pavillion Chinese Restaurant 1057 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 0504
	Loi-Eng Restaurant 113 Station St Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 1818
	Malibu's Restaurant Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9752 4222
	Mountain Dragon Restaurant Shop 19 The Cruiseway Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 6535
	Mountain Village Chinese Restaurant Shop 53 Mountain Gate Shopping Cntr Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 2822
	Shiraaz Ferntree Gully Innovative Indian Restaurant Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9753 5666
	Swagman Restaurant 1009 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 4455
	Sylvesteršs 1130 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 6544
	The Villa Renaissance Total Body & Beauty Old World Luxury Retreat Restaurants Underwood Rd Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 0551
	Tin Wong Palace 716 Burwood Hwy Ferntree Gully, Upper VIC 3156 Telephone: (03) 9758 0782