Camperdown - Lake Bullen Merri and Lake Gnotuk Lookout
The Lake Bullen Merri and Gnotuk Lookout is one of the finest viewpoints in Victoria's Volcanic Lakes and Plains. Perched above two neighbouring volcanic crater lakes, the lookout provides spectacular panoramic views across Lake Bullen Merri, Lake Gnotuk and the surrounding volcanic landscape.
An interpretive sign explains how these twin crater lakes were formed by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago and why the lakes have very different water chemistry. Visitors can clearly see the distinctive clover-shaped outline of Lake Bullen Merri and the pale, salt-rimmed shoreline of Lake Gnotuk set against the rich green farmland of the Western District.
The lookout is easily reached by car. From Camperdown, follow Park Road through the Lakes and Craters Holiday Park, continue past the Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum, then follow the signs to the lookout. The viewing area has parking immediately beside the lookout, making it suitable for visitors of all ages and abilities. From the car park, it's only a short walk to the viewing platform and interpretive display.
Interpretative Signage:
Lake Bullen Merri & Lake Gnotuk
Lake Gnotuk and Lake Bullen Merri are parts of an uncommon volcanic landform known as a MAAR. A maar is a broad, roughly circular, flat- floored volcanic crater with steep inner walls and a low surrounding rim built of fragments of rock material that were blown out of the crater during eruptions. The word MAAR is derived from the German language and is the name given to lakes in volcanic craters of this type in the Eifel district of Germany. In Australia, most maars occur in the southern part of the Western District of Victoria and there are over 30 in the area between Colac and Warrnambool. lake Purrumbete and Tower Hill are nearby examples.
A maar develops as a result of violent volcanic activity as superheated steam and other gases explode from the ground ahead of a rising column of lava. The steam is created by the boiling of groundwater and the combined pressure of this and the ascending lava and its gases blast a pipe or a vent through the overlying surface rock. Continued eruptions widen this vent into a broad crater that forms the floor of the maar. Some of the eruptive material is thrown high into the air but much of it surges rapidly across the ground surface as a dense cloud of steam. gas and rock fragments. As this cloud loses heat and momentum, the fragments arc deposited in layers or beds called TEPHRA or PYROC LASTIC ROCKS. Tephra consisting of particles the size of sand grains or smaller is known as TUFF and the deposit forming the rim of the maar is a TUFF RING. Occasional larger blocks of lava or other rock are embedded in the tuff. Underneath the tuff around these maars is a small lava flow that is best seen on the northern side of Lake Gnotuk. This lava may have been erupted from Mount Leura. The simple circular shape of Lake Gnotuk shows it to be a single small maar while the clover-leaf outline of Lake Bullen Merri suggests it is made of two maars which have joined together. After the eruptions ceased the craters have become choked with rock debris and the lakes developed.
Some of the water is direct runoff from the crater slopes but most is a result of underground water from the water table leaking into the craters. Without an outlet, evaporation causes the lakes to become saline. Lake Bullen Merri is brackish but Lake Gnotuk is twice as salty as sea water. Research into sediments and fossils from the floor of the lakes shows the salinity to have chanced considerably over the last 10,000 years. The bottom of both lakes is at about the same level (about 80 metres above sea level) but Bullen Merri has a steep cone-shaped floor and is over 60 metres deep while Gnotuk has a flat floor and a depth of less than 20 metres (see cross-section diagram).
Although Lake Bullen Merri overflowed into Lake Gnotuk in the mid-1800's, the level of both lakes has fallen considerably in the last 100 years due possibly to climatic changes. Former high water level shoreline cliffs are clearly seen as parallel benches around the north western rim of Bullen Merri. Although they are many thousands of years old, these maars are geologically young features.
From this lookout, other volcanic eruption points such as Ewen Hill and Mount Noorat can be seen rising above the lava plains. The old sandstone ridges of the Grampians loom in the far distance to the north west.
Camperdown & District
Camperdown lies at the centre of a Volcanic area that was active: between 10,000 and 30,000 years ago. The crater lakes and hills in the district are a result of geysers of hot steam and rock spewing forth and producing 'maars' - shallow craters formed by the detonations.
Before the coming of the Europeans there were many Aboriginals in the area. The region was rich in pickings for hunter gatherers. Early Europeans settlers had many conflicts with the locals - usually with the Aborigines coming off second- best. Sadly the local culture and heritage is gone but the names of so many of the local landmarks remind us that this region has a history which predates the coming of the white man.
In 1839 the Manifold brothers, Peter, John and Thomas, brought their sheep to the shores of Lake Purrumbete, ending a risky search for new grazing land. From humble beginnings the Manifold family went on to create one of the countries great rural empires.
Other land seekers soon followed. The original town was two miles to the north of its present site. It was called Timboon after the Aboriginal word for mussell shells. The area proved marshy and unsuitable. In 1851, Government surveyor Robert Scott was sent to find more suitable land for a township. He camped at the base of Mt. Leura one night and was so mesmerised by what he saw the next morning that he deemed it "all suitable for development".
The area surrounding Camperdown is also steeped in history and interesting geographical features.
To the south lies Peterborough and Port Campbell, on a stretch of coastline known as 'The Shipwreck Coast' after the many ships that foundered during storms on the rocky shore. To the west lies the great farming belt known as the Western District of Victoria, renowned as a great grazing area.
Information on the great many things to do in and around Camperdown is available from the Tourist Information Centre in the main street.
Location
220 Park Road, Camperdown 3260 View Map
