The Park at Silvan Reservoir near Monbulk

Monbulk (including Silvan)
Pretty town in the Dandenongs
Monbulk is a small and attractive town located 47 km east of Melbourne in the Dandenong Ranges. It is situated in rolling timbered country noted for its vegetable, fruit and tulip-growing production.

The area is thought to have been occupied by the Woiwurung Aborigines prior to European settlement. Monbulk was one of three towns established by the government in the 1890s. It is the only one of the three to survive.

Tessalaar's Tulip Festival is held at Tessalaar's Bulbs from mid-September to mid-October each year (see entry below under 'Things to See') and the Silvan Food and Flower Festival at Silvan in November. The Victorian Strawberry Festival takes place at the Seville Recreation Reserve on the Monbulk-Seville Rd in November and the Rose Festival is held at Roses Galore in the last weekend of November (see entry below under 'Things to See').

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.

Monbulk Winery
At 10 and 11 Macclesfield Rd is Monbulk Winery where wine is made from Kiwi fruits as well as grapes. There is a picnic area and it is open on weekends and public holidays from midday to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 9756 6965. To get there head north for 2 km along the Monbulk Rd then turn right onto the Old Emerald Rd. After a short distance turn left onto the Macclesfield Rd.

Roses Galore
If you continue along to the eastern end of Macclesfield Rd it becomes Swales Rd. Turn right off Swales Rd into Kirkpatrick Rd. A short distance along, to the right, is the award-winning Roses Galore - a display garden with barbecue facilities. There is a retail/wholesale nursery. They are open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays and from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from Wednesday to Friday. The Rose Festival is held here over four days in the last weekend of November, tel: (03) 5964 8475.

Five Oaks Vineyard
Five Oaks Vineyard is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays or by appointment. There are picnic and barbecue facilities, tel: (03) 5964 3704. To get there head north on the Monbulk Rd for 4 km then turn right into the Monbulk-Seville Rd. After about 10 more kilometres there is a left turn into Aitken Rd where you will find the winery.

Tesselaar's Bulbs and Flowers
If you continue north along the Monbulk Rd, a short distance beyond the Seville turnoff, you will see Tesselaar's Bulbs and Flowers on the right-hand side of the road. Tessalaar's Tulip Festival is held here every year from mid-September to mid-October . It features millions of flowers - tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, fresias, anemones, ranunculi and many others. The Dutch theme is reflected in the costumes, food, barrel organ, wishing well etc. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes. Tesselaar's is open from 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily except during the festival when it is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 9737 9811.

Pick Your Own
R.L. Chapman and Sons has U-pick raspberries, cherries, peaches, apples and lemons. It is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily from December to January (except Christmas Day) and on weekdays only for the rest of the year, tel: (03) 9737 9534. To get there head north on the Monbulk Rd for about 6 km then turn left onto Parker Rd. It is at no.21

Close by, at 27 Parker Rd, is Blue Hills Orchards which offers pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries (November to April) and cherries (December). Freshly picked and frozen fruit is also available. Ring for times, tel: (03) 9737 9400.

At 39 Parker Rd is another U-pick farm - Phil and Betty Chapman Fruit and Berries - where raspberries, boysenberries, currants and blueberries are available. There are also shed sales of peaches, cherries and raspberries. They are open from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. from December to March, tel: (03) 5964 4303.

Silvan Reservoir

Silvan Reservoir Park
The Silvan Reservoir Park is a very popular recreation area in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. There are 20 ha of manicured lawns and beautifully landscaped picnic areas which consist mainly of exotic vegetation (including cypress, spruce, liquidamber, poplar, and maples), surrounded by eucalypt forest. The European-style formal gardens (constructed in the 1930s) feature azaleas and rhododendrons within a framework of stone terraces and vined pergolas. The Park has children's play facilities, barbecues (with free wood), some fine views and numerous walking tracks. Most paths have ramps for the disabled.

This site was chosen for a reservoir after a severe drought in 1914. Construction commenced in 1926 and the dam was officially opened in 1931. The dam wall is 644 metres long at its crest, 219 metres wide at its base and 43 metres high. It distributes water all over Melbourne and to other reservoirs.

Construction, clearing, urbanisation and introduced species have greatly affected local fauna populations over the years. However, short-beaked echidna, brush-tail and ring-tail possums, sugar gliders, the common wombat and a variety of bat species are found in the park. Birdlife includes herons, spoonbills, ducks, rosellas, kookaburras, wedge-tailed eagles, thornbills, treecreepers, robins, owls and cockatoos.

To get there follow the Monbulk Rd north for about 8 km. When you get to Silvan turn left into Stoneyford Rd. On the left-hand, or southern, side of the road are two entrances which lead into Silvan Reservoir Park, at the northern edge of Silvan Reservoir.

The Heidelberg School Art Trail sign at the Silvan Dam

The first of the entrances (the eastern entrance) leads to a carpark, from whence there are fine photographic opportunities (the reservoir's outlet tower is nearby) and information boards. On the eastern side of the carpark is the Torulosa historical stairway which has open lawn areas and offers views over the reservoir. A loop track leads east, passing by the park office.

On the western side of the carpark a trail heads west for 100 metres to the attractions associated with the western entrance. It leads past the Top Rotunda Picnic Area (which has hot water, wood and electric barbecues, picnic tables and views across the Dandenongs) and the Peppermint Picnic Area - a shaded arbour with wood barbecues. Nearby are toilets (including disabled facilities) and picnic tables.

By the western carpark are the Lower Rotunda Picnic Area (which has hot water, wood barbecues and the rotunda itself) and the stilling basin. On the western side of this carpark there is a children's playground and the start of the Stonyford Creek self-guided nature trail - a half-hour loop walk that passes through some remnant bushland and across Stoneyford Creek, incorporating moist eucalypt forest, wattles, banksias, native grasses and gullies of tall tree ferns along the creek banks. Points of interest are indicated by numbered posts. A corresponding leaflet is available from the information shelter by the playground. Near the end of the circular walk, you will see, to the left, the Cypress Picnic Area which has shady trees, open lawns and wood barbecues.

Four longer walking tracks cover terrain on the northern side of Stoneyford Rd. The Messmate Walking Track (1.2 km) starts from a point on Stoneyford Rd, just east of and opposite the eastern entrance. After about 700 metres there is a track junction. The trail on the left leads back to Stoneyford Rd. If, instead of taking this left, you continue straight ahead, the track eventually leads to another T-intersection. If you turn left here onto the Grey Gum Track it leads back to Stoneyford Road at a point opposite the western entrance. If you turn right, instead of left, at the aforesaid T-intersection, the track leads into Dandenong Ranges National Park. into Dandenong Ranges National Park. Contact the Parks Victoria office at Upper Ferntree Gully for further details, tel: (03) 9758 1342.

The park is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. from December to January. It closes at sunset at all other times except from June to July when it closes at 5.00 p.m.

If you are coming from Melbourne, follow Canterbury Rd, turn right at York Rd at Mt Evelyn and follow the signs to the park (Melway map 120 H11).

Tours are conducted in the park by Allwalks (bushwalking) and Off Road Cycling Adventures. Talks and tours can also be organised with Parks Victoria, tel: 131 963. Large groups and school groups should book four weeks in advance as some picnic areas and rotundas may be reserved. An entry fee applies.

Melba Walk and Dandenong Ranges National Park
Opposite the western entrance to Silvan Reservoir Park is the start of the Melba Walk (5 km return) within the Mt Evelyn section of Dandenong Ranges National Park. Signs lead along the Grey Gum Track and through eucalypt forests, zigzagging onto Track 10, then Track 12, making left turns at both Tracks 13 and 18 into fern gullies. At the end of Track 18 turn right and walk through the gate onto Stoneyford Rd and back to the start. The Olinda Creek Walk (5.6 km) and the Mt Evelyn Aqueduct Track (7.2 km) are two other walks in this section of Dandenong Ranges National Park.

At its western end Stoneyford Rd runs into Olinda Creek Rd. Turn left off the latter into Silvan Rd which passes through another section of the National Park. You will soon come to a turnoff on the right into Eagle Nest Rd which leads to the picnic area. From here it is possible to walk to Valley Picnic Ground (see entry on Olinda) or you can get there by car if you continue south along Silvan Rd and turn right into Boundary Road (for further information on Valley Picnic Ground see entry on Olinda). Silvan Road eventually leads into Chalet Rd which will take you to a T-intersection with the Olinda-Monbulk Rd. A left turn will lead back to Monbulk. 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.

The Butterfield Picnic Ground and Wildlife Reserve
The Butterfield Picnic Ground and Wildlife Reserve is located adjacent Woori Yallock Creek. Head south-east of Monbulk along David Hill Rd which becomes the Monbulk-Emerald Rd. After about 7 km there is a signposted turnoff on the left to the reserve which has picnic, barbecue and toilet facilities.

Yamina Rare Plants
Featured on Burke's Backyard, Yamina Rare Plants claim to have the largest array of rare and unusual plants in the southern hemisphere: clematis, Japanese maple, magnolia etc. They are open weekdays from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and weekends from 1.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. and are located in Moores Rd, tel: (03) 9756 6335.

	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Bluegum Heights Bed & Breakfast Red Hill Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 7434
	Cottages & Cabins
	Eaglehammer Cottages 440 Emerald Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 7700 Facsimile: (03) 9756 7444 Rating: ****1/2
	Spring Waters Retreat 210 Monbulk Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 6332 Facsimile: (03) 9756 6332 Rating: ****
	Lodges & Chalets
	Camp Waterman Lodge McCarthy Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 6120 Facsimile: (03) 9756 7979
	Restaurants
	Barney's Celtic Affair Olinda Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 7045
	Friends on the Hill 104 Main Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9752 0022
	P & L Kitchen 138 Main Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 7431
	Rose Cottage Restaurant Olinda - Monbulk Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 6122
	The Sand Bar 250 Olinda Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 7045
	Cafés
	Blue Gum Deli 808 Main Rd Monbulk VIC 3793 Telephone: (03) 9756 7802