Daylesford - Central Springs Reserve
Take the short stroll from Lake Daylesford, along the spillway into Wombat Creek and you will find the picturesque Central Springs Reserve. It can also be accessed by driving to the southern end of Fulcher Street where there is a carpark with a path down to the springs.
There is a lovely grassy reserve alongside the creek with three mineral water pumps (including one accessible pump) featuring stunning brass artworks by Timani Nicholls-Moore.
Artist Statement - "I did the artwork so people would be more informed about what did happen along the water. I wanted to bring that spirit back here.
This is what would have been happening along the water. Women would be gathering and weaving. The fish trap was another thing we used to collect food. We collected eggs too but only at the right time and when there was enough.
I wanted to capture that this is a special place for everyone. It's a chain reaction - without water there's no food, no plants, no life, there's nothing. The wavy line around the mineral spring pumps shows that nothing is ever wasted when we care for Country. Kapiin (water) spilled on the ground is not waste water, it returns to Djinndaknd and takes its place in the natural cycle."
This is a great place for a shady picnic on a warm summer's day and a good point to set off on a walk exploring the Goldfields Track. It also boasts lovely Autumn colours. The reserve has a shelter with table and BBQs, unshaded tables and plenty of lovely seating. There are toilets 130m away beside Lake Daylesford.
When the Lake Daylesford weir is overflowing, there is a nice waterfall along the creek.
Central Springs, Hard Hills Spring, Wagga Spring and Sutton Spring are located in the Central Springs Reserve at the southern end of Lake Daylesford. Wombat Spring is located on the other side of Lake Daylesford. See our guide to Daylesford Area Mineral Springs to reach the other springs in the area.
Micro-hydro station
In the corner of the reserve is a micro-hydro station. This micro-hydro station at Lake Daylesford operated early last century, powering seventy-eight street lights around Lake Daylesford and the kiosk at Central Springs Reserve. It was managed by the Hepburn Springs Electric Supply Co. back when local companies with community shareholders managed the local community energy supply networks. The State Electricity grid was connected in 1940.
The turbine was the design of a London based company - Boving and Co. Ltd, and was manufactured in 1929 in Sweden. The hydro plant shed was built the same year by local builder, Robert Righetti. The new lake provided the required deep water to drive a turbine and electrical generator. It generated around 12kW and has been out of commission since 1941.
In a hark back to the past, Hepburn Shire is the home of Australia’s first community-owned wind farm located at Leonards Hill. Built in 2011, Hepburn Energy is a community co-operative of around 2000 members (2024).
Cottage Artwork
220m along the track leading to Wagga mineral spring and Sutton mineral spring is the artwork "Cottage" by Jason Waterhouse (2015). This track continues to Twin Bridges picnic area, Tipperary Springs (and further) via the Goldfields Track.
Artist Statement: “Cottage” draws on the varying historical architectural styles within our town; from the utilitarian design of the humble nineteenth century miners' cottages, through to the highly decorative elements of the opulent Victorian buildings and the rich patterns found within the Edwardian and Deco Architecture of the district.
‘Cottage’ takes the form of a typical double fronted Daylesford miner’s cottage. However, it is created from highly decorative wrought iron, the pattern of which can also be found on the gates of the Daylesford Convent.
The decorative elements of ‘Cottage’ reference the rich opulence of the gold rush and pre-war, spa resort eras in its patterning. In its form, ‘Cottage’ pays homage to the miners, workers and farmers on whose backs the riches of Daylesford were built.”
Central Springs
"buried under ... mining debris"
In December 1888, "Our Correspondent" wrote in The Argus:
"In pursuing their avocations in Daylesford in the early days, the (gold) miners laid bare a number of mineral springs which, after a short time, were again buried under heaps of mining debris. The Daylesford Borough Council has recently taken steps to open up some of these..."
A mineral springs reserve was established in 1881 along the banks of Wombat Creek. In October 1883, Daylesford Borough Council requested the reservation of more land surrounding Wombat Creek, this time for the purpose of a lake. An area of 50 acres was reserved for an "Ornamental Lake and Public Recreation" in May 1885. In January 1889 these reserves were consolidated into one.
From then until 1955, the Daylesford Borough Council actively sought to enlarge, enhance and protect these valuable mineral water assets. Central Springs Reserve now extends from Lake Daylesford, constructed in 1929, to beyond Sutton Spring.
Central's mineral water
The waters from the pumps at Central and the nearby trench (Hard Hills) are of the magnesium sodium bicarbonate natural mineral water type.
Central (MS 42) has relatively low levels of total dissolved salts, bicarbonate and inorganic carbon. It is considered a dull-tasting mineral water lacking sparkle.
Now closed to the public due to structural issues with the trench, Hard Hills (MS 42) had a slightly metallic taste due to its high levels of calcium and iron.
Location
Fulcher Street, Daylesford 3460 View Map
