Over 1,986 metres high lies the highest peak in Victoria. We call it Mount Bogong. From here at the Alps Lookout, you can begin to understand the vastness of the Victorian Alps.
The Victorian Alps, also known as the High Country, is a large mountain system. It occupies most of eastern Victoria. This range forms the southwestern half of the Australian Alps. The other half is the Snowy Mountains. Together they form the tallest portion of the Great Dividing Range. Even the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges are branches of the Victorian Alps. These ranges provide Melbourne with its rivers and drinking water.
The promise of gold brought Europeans here in the mid-1800s during the Victorian Gold Rush. The region’s natural resources attracted farmers. Today, the foothills around the Victorian Alps have a large agricultural sector. Cattle stations have recently sold for over thirty million dollars.
The Victorian Alps is the source of many of Victoria’s waterways. These include the Murray and Yarra Rivers and the Gippsland Lakes. The valleys below the high plains host wineries and orchards. This is due to the abundant water. The region is also home to Victoria’s largest national park. It is the Alpine National Park, covering over 646,000 hectares. The park limits mining, logging, and agriculture. This preserves the natural ecosystem for visitors. Tourism here focuses on snow sports in winter and outdoor activities in summer.
The Victorian Alps were a significant meeting place for Indigenous tribes. They came from all over South-east Australia. Seasonally, they met at the highest peaks for trade. They also settled disputes. Marriage and initiation ceremonies occurred here. The tribes feasted on Bogong moths. These moths migrate from Queensland to the Victorian Alps during the summer.
Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, Angus McMillan, and Alfred Howitt explored the Victorian Alps in the early 1850s. Gold was found in 1852 and brought thousands to the high plains. Men like John Mitchell and George Gray sought grazing pastures. They settled in the Bogong high plains because of its natural grass fields. These settlements were often seasonal. The harsh winter made grazing and mining impractical.
Communities here developed a distinctive way of life. Banjo Patterson captured this in his poem, “The Man from Snowy River”. After World War II, demand for timber increased. This boosted the economy. Roads, train lines, and bridges were built. The Great Alpine Road is a prominent example. It is a 308 km paved mountain pass. It connects Bairnsdale in East Gippsland to Wangaratta in Central Victoria. The road reaches 1,845 metres at a site called the cross. This is the highest sealed road in Australia. It was a popular tourist destination in the 1920s and 1930s.
Snow sports began here in the 1910s. The government built the Mount Buffalo chalet. It was the largest wooden building in Australia. For many years, it was the only ski field in the Victorian Alps. Skiing grew slowly. Ski clubs like the University Ski Club became popular. In the early 1960s, ski fields began to install tow ropes. Austrian immigrants opened ski rental businesses and lodges.
The Victorian Alps include the Bogong High Plains and the Cathedral Range. They are also called the High Plains or High Country. The highest peak is Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres. Other prominent peaks include Mount Feathertop and Mount Hotham.
From the Alps Lookout, remember the layers of history and nature that define this remarkable region. The Victorian Alps continue to be a place of wonder. They offer both adventure and tranquility.