“Gold fever! Can you feel it?” I ask, my voice echoing slightly off the cool, damp walls of the Big Peninsula Tunnel. You might be surprised to find this tunnel here, carved through solid rock. But it’s a testament to the allure of gold that gripped Victoria in the 1860s. The Big Peninsula Tunnel, along with its smaller sibling, the Little Peninsula Tunnel, were products of that fervent gold rush. Imagine the desperation, the sheer grit of those miners. They were determined to divert the mighty Yarra River, convinced that gold glittered beneath its rushing waters. This tunnel, almost 25 meters long and as wide as a carriage, was their audacious solution. They chiseled away at the rock, using dynamite to blast through stubborn sections. It was backbreaking, dangerous work. But the promise of gold, that glint of fortune, kept them going. Today, the roar of the river has been replaced by a tranquil flow. Take a moment to appreciate the echoes of their ambition as you stand within this monument to their unwavering belief in striking it rich.
Kororoit Creek
Is this where the river meets the sea? This is Kororoit Creek. It flows right here through Melbourne’s western suburbs