Bawbaw

Straddling the boundary between the Victorian Alps and Gippsland, Baw Baw National Park beckons. It’s a place of intriguing contrasts, where snow gums meet granite peaks. This park, a mere 120 kilometers east of Melbourne, holds a rich history, diverse ecosystem, and a name shrouded in Aboriginal lore. Baw Baw National Park was officially established in April 1979. This protects its 13,530 hectares of unique sub-alpine environment. The park encompasses the forested Baw-Baw Plateau. It surrounds the popular Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort. The plateau is dotted with peaks like Mount Baw Baw, Mount St Gwinear, Mount St Phillack, Mount Erica, and Mount Whitelaw. These weathered granite giants rise from a landscape of snow gums and meadows. Interestingly, Mount St Phillack, at 1,566 meters, is the park’s highest peak within the park boundaries. The slightly higher Mount Baw Baw peak falls within the ski resort area. The rivers Thomson, Tanjil, and Tyers draw their lifeblood from the slopes of the Baw Baw Plateau. The Thomson Reservoir, a vital water source, also depends on this plateau’s catchment. Long before European exploration, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation considered this land their home. The Gunaikurnai people also identify Baw Baw National Park as their traditional country, their connection woven into the very fabric of the landscape. Ferdinand von Mueller, a renowned botanist, first explored the area in 1860. He left his mark by naming Mount Mueller and Mount Erica. Mueller’s exploration wasn’t merely about discovery. It was also a scientific endeavor to compare and contrast the vegetation of Tasmania and Victoria. The discovery of gold in the 1880s and 1890s brought settlers. This forever altered the landscape and the lives of its original inhabitants. Baw Baw National Park gained further recognition in 2008. It was added to the Australian National Heritage List as part of the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves. This solidifies its importance as the southernmost extent of the sub-alpine environment on mainland Australia. Baw Baw’s diverse ecosystem shelters a variety of flora and fauna. The critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum, Victoria’s state fauna emblem, calls this park home. Another critically endangered species, the Baw Baw frog, clings to survival on the Mount Baw Baw Plateau. The park’s namesake, “Baw Baw,” echoes the voices of the past. In the Woiwurrung language, it was believed to mean “ghost” or “bandicoot.” In the Bunurong and Gunai languages, it means “echo,” a fitting tribute to the whispers of history that resonate within the park’s boundaries. Today, Baw Baw National Park thrives as a hub for outdoor activities. Skiers carve through the snow in winter. Bushwalkers explore its trails in summer. The Australian Alps Walking Track traverses the park, offering a multi-day journey through botanical and geological wonders.