Pomborneit North - Corangamite Dry Stone Walls Heritage Trail East
The Corangamite Dry Stone Walls Heritage Trail East is a self-drive touring route showcasing one of Australia's most remarkable collections of nineteenth-century dry stone walls. Constructed by early European settlers using locally gathered volcanic basalt, these impressive walls have shaped the landscape of south-west Victoria for more than 150 years and remain an enduring symbol of the region's pastoral heritage.
The eastern trail explores the countryside east and north of Camperdown, following quiet rural roads through productive farmland where some of Corangamite Shire's finest nineteenth-century dry stone walls can still be seen.
Built without mortar, the walls were carefully stacked by skilled stonemasons to create long-lasting boundaries for sheep and cattle properties. Many are still performing the task they were built for during the mid to late 1800s.
Along the drive you'll encounter long stretches of double-faced walls, carefully constructed gateways and sweeping volcanic plains that demonstrate why this landscape is regarded as one of the finest dry stone wall regions in Australia. The route is particularly attractive in spring when paddocks are green and wildflowers bloom along the roadsides.
Interpretive signs at selected locations explain the history of the walls, the techniques used to build them and their importance in the development of the Western District grazing industry. The trail is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, with numerous opportunities to stop safely and admire the craftsmanship.
This route (marked in pink on the map below) takes you past four of the district’s most intriguing dry stone walls which are marked 1,2,3 and 4 on this map.
Corangamite Dry Stone Walls Heritage Trail East Map
1. Cock & Hen Wall
Pomonbeit-Foxhow Road, Pomborneit North
It's name is derived from the pattern of raised and flat copestones.
2. The Rabbit Wall
Pomonbeit-Foxhow Road, Pomborneit North
This section exhibits prominent throughstones on the north face. Throughstones reflect a sound walling practice, as these stones ‘lock’ the two sides of the wall together.
3. The Rabbit Wall
Pomonbeit-Foxhow Road, Pomborneit North
This section is capped by massive flat copestones which overhang the wall and provide a barrier to rabbits climbing the wall. In other parts of the Rabbit Wall, slats and mesh are used for this purpose.
4. Foxhow Road Wall
Foxhow Road (near Wettenhalls Lane), Kariah
A fine example of a wall built using uniform and rounded stones. These are difficult to work with as they lack the interlocking nature of more irregular and vesicular stones. This lower wall is in more open sheep country.
Tip: Drive slowly and use designated roadside pull-offs when photographing the walls. Many of the finest examples are on private farmland and should be admired from public roads.
Location
Pomborneit-Foxhow Road, Pomborneit North 3260 View Map
Web Links
→ dswaa.org.au/self-drive-tours-vic
