Background on Bridle Path up Stony Creek Gorge Pre 1840 C. B. Hall, squatter on Mokepilly Run 1841-1842, first European to discover the Fyans Creek valley, the entrance of which became known as Hall's Gap. He later recorded that he followed a number of tracks which he assumed had been made by the Aboriginies and described one as "leading up a wild romantic glen and over on to the source of the Glenelg River". This could well have been the route taken up Stony Creek gorge by the first timber-cutters in this part of the Grampians to the saddle between the Wonderland and Mt. Difficult ranges known as Valley Gap 1850s/60s Timber cutters and shingle splitters were reported to be moving into the eastern side of the Grampians and by the mid 1860s there were a number of families connected to the supplying of timber to Pleasant Creek living in the "Hall's Gap ranges". John Wakeham, the first store owner in Pleasant Creek in 1854, established a timer-mill in upper Stony Creek Gorge in the late 1850s. Wakeham is credited for the clearing and levelling of the first bridle-path up the gorge. 1870s By the mid 1870s the track had been extended over Valley Gap to the Victoria Forest (the upper region of the Victoria Valley). McKeon's bullock team was known to have hauled red gum from the Valley to Stawell in the late 1870s and the 1880s. 1880s In 1887 an article in the Pleasant Creek news describes the Stony Creek Gorge track as "being a ledge alongside the mountain range, formed in the early days with the aid of earth and timber, along which the bullock teams used to travel to Horsham and plains of the Wimmera beyond." 1890s Gold was discovered in the catchment area of Stony Creek and by the end of the 1890s a new track was built from "near the junction of Fyan's and Stony Creeks, up the gorge to the diggings settlement. The mining Department had paid L300 for its construction and, when completed, the track was "three miles and 30 chains in length, the side cuttings at the narrowest part being 10 feet between" and "the watercourses which cross the track at various points" having been "filled up with rocks rolled down the sides of the hills, and consequently there can be no damage caused by bushfires which destroyed the former wooden bridges erected on the old track to Wakeham's saw-mill, the remains of which are still to be seen at the side of the diggings" The article goes on to further describe the track as one which "can with ease travel with a two horse conveyance either up or down" and that the workmen engaged in the construction of the track would be attending "a ball that night at McKeon's farm near the mouth of the gap to celebrate the successful completion of the undertaking". 1900s At what time the bridle path was extended beyond Valley Gap to the Wartook basin on the Mt. Difficult Range has not yet been determined. However, it is known that, by the turn of the century, people were travelling between Halls Gap and the caretakers' residence at Wartook Reservoir along what was now known as the "Bluff Road. Wartook's embankment had been constructed in 1887 and at that time there was already a track from Rosebrook Station homestead (near the present day Wartook Pottery) to the reservoir. Philip Rose owned both Rosebrook and Wartook Stations from the mid 1840s to the late 1850s and had regularly leased the Wartook basin to Cobb & Co. to rest horses there. 1920s Following the war of 1914-1918, tourism really took off in the Grampians, and Halls Gap rapidly grew. People would travel as far as they could on the many tracks then hike to the many lookouts being discovered by local tour guides. This led to the need for access across the range so that horse riders and the increasing number of vehicles could travel between Horsham and Halls Gap. To this end, the Bluff Road was improved and extended on 1929 and at its opening in March, 1930, by Lady Somers it was renamed the Mt. Victory Road.Map of Mt Victory Road and othersaccess routes, mt victory rd, bridle path, roads

Official opening of Mt Victory Rd People in photo Lord and Lady Somers, 2 Johsons Millie Bowtell, Bessie McKeon, M PawseyPhoto shows group standing on road opening of Mt Victory Rd. Lord Somers in foregroundaccess routes, mt victory rd, people, roads

Mirranatwa Gap was originally known as Yarram Gap; this name was given to the opposite gap on the Mt William side of the Dunkeld Road sometime in the mid 20th century. An early touring car, claimed to be the first, crossing Mirranatwa (then Yarram) Gap.Photo shows car on Yarram Gap Road Road is rocky and unsealed. trees on left side of photo has been felledaccess routes, roads, yarram gap

Mirranatwa Gap was originally known as Yarram Gap The name later given to the adjacent gap in the Mt William Range sometime in the mid 20th century. This is an early touring car, claimed to be the first , crossing Mirranatwa gapPhoto shows car on road with man standing beside it. Road unsealed Trees on left side of road have been felled. access routes, roads, yarram gap

Photo shows car having driven over Mirranatwa Gap into Wannon Valleyaccess routes, roads, mirranatwa gap

Photo shows car having driven over Mirranatwa Gap into Wannon Valley access routes, roads, mirranatwa gap

The name of the road Henham Gap was later changed to MirranatwaPhoto shows bus and tourists on road looking over Henham Gap, Bus company - BoyVictorian Railways Photographaccess routes, roads, henham gap

New road approaching Wirranatwa GapRoad through Mirranatwa Gap with people walking???access routes, mirranatwa gap, roads

A track to the top of Mt William existed many years before, an all weather road was constructed in the early 1960s Not only did engineers and construction workers enjoy some spectacular scenery during "smokos" but so have thousands of tourists Some even experiencing the freezing gale force winds which greeting Major Thomas Mitchell and his party in July 1836sPhoto shows 3 men looking over to Wonderland Range from Mt William. Two men are wearing hard hats The third man a felt hat - he is pointing to a point in the distanceWMT (Wimmera Mail Times}access routes, walking track, roads, mount william

Photo shows men & machinery forming the road up Mt William. There are 8 men, 1 bull-dozer, 1 jeepaccess routes, roads, access routes, mt william road

Photo shows men & machines on construction work for road to Mt Williamaccess routes, roads, access routes, mt william road

Photo shows 2 men standing on rough formation of road to Mt William. One man is wearing a hard-hat, the other a felt hat.access routes, roads, access routes, mt william road

Photo shows 5 men surrounding bulldozer. One is looking straight at camera, another is u;sing welding equipment.access routes, roads, access routes, mt william road

Photo shows man on the Mt Zero track looking towards Mt Stapyltonaccess routes, walking track, access routes, walking track

Photo shows construction workers taking a break. Men are seated, surrounded by thick bush & flowers.access routes, roads, access routes, mt william road

Photo shows construction workers looking over valley with rough formation of Mt William road. There are 4 men in photo, 2 wearing hard-hats. There appears to be 2 vehicles on the road.WMT Mt William construction 1966-68access routes, roads, access routes, mt william road

Photo shows Charles D'Alton (left) and Fred Paasch (right & seated) looking at a point in the distance. Fred Paasch has arm raised & finger pointed. Both are standing on new & rough section of Mt Victory Rd. Dog in foreground.Charles D'Alton & Frederick Paasch (white hat)access routes, mt victory rd

Photo shows a sheep on Zumstein's/MacKenzie Falls track 1925Sheep on Zumstein McKenzie Falls walking track / Stan Parfettaccess routes, walking track

Photo shows 2 women sedated on wooden footbridge over the Wannon riverstructures, bridges

Photo shows two buses - one Provincial Roadways, the other Ansett Road. Provincial Roadways bus is being pushed by front-end loaded.Writing on back - Zumsteins's camping. Provincial Roadways bus in trouble.transport, buses

Photo shows the first car (a Buick) to reach summit of Mt Victory. The car was owned by Mr J Hemley. One copy is a slide in slide box 303.Photo shows a car parked on rocky outcrop. Five men are standing near the car.First car to reach summit of Mt Victory - Mr J. Hemley in his cartransport, cars

Photo shows a group of people pulling a car by rope out of the Wannon River. There are six adults and three children in the photo.transport, cars

The Wannon Ford - typical of creek crossings in the Grampians.Photo shows a rough, unsealed road running through a ford (the Wannon Ford).access routes, roads

Photo shows unsealed section of the Dunkeld/Grampians Road, looking towards the face of Mt. Frederick.access routes, roads

Photo shows an unsealed section of Grampians Rd. near Jimmy's Creek. The sharp profile of Mt Frederick can be seen in the distance.access routes, roads

Photo shows construction workers involved with the making of Dunkeld/Grampians Road. One man is standing on the running board of a small truck, six men are seated or standing in the tray, another man is standing on the ground at the back of the vehicle.access routes, roads, people, road gang

Back Row: 1. ?, 2. Jack Watson, 3. Pop McKay, 4. Jim Scott, 5. William Bowtell, 6. Charlie Johnson, 7. ?, 8. Peter Young, 9. Charlie D'Alton. Front Row: 1. Pat McKay ?, 2. Fred Johnson, 3. Butts Waldron (driver), 4. Tommy Carr, 5. Bill McKeon, 6. Dudley Whelan.Photo shows road gang in front of Time Keeper's Hut, at back of school. Fifteen men - some standing, others kneeling in front of canvas tents.people, road gang

Photo shows car parked at side of the road at Wannon Campground, looking north on the Halls Gap - Dunkeld Road.access routes, chalets

2004Photo shows Joe Helper MP, Janet Witham, Historian and Robert Irwin, Mayor at the official opening of the new Delley's Bridge at the entrance to Hall's Gappeoplestructures, bridges