Myrtleford - Reform Hill Walk
Reform Hill is located at the south eastern end of Myrtleford, opposite the Old Butter Factory.
Reform Hill is named from a rich gold bearing quartz reef discovered in 1854. Trial crushings yielded a high proportion of gold, ten ounces to the ton. The gold bearing quartz was 7 metres wide in places and ran through the core of the hill, estimated to have yielded approximately 21,500 ounces of gold. For over 30 years the Reform Mine was a principal employer within Myrtleford. The mine closed in 1888 due mainly to a large amount of water entering the shafts. Today it is a peaceful recreational location providing great walking tracks past historical mining features and picturesque native forests, the typical trees including Red Box, Long-leaf Box, Red Stringybark and Broadleaf Peppermint.
The bushland walk is a 3.4km loop past old mining sites, historic markers and mosaics to reach a pleasant lookout. It is a formed, signposted track with some steep hills and steps.
Start at Jones Park on Myrtle Street. A number of short trails loop around the State Forest and can be walked in various configurations. Follow the signage to the lookout along the trail on the northern side of the hill and descend on the southern side.
If walking is not an option you may drive your car to within 50 metres of the lookout, providing views down the Ovens Valley, Mount Buffalo and the Victorian Alps. Well worth visiting at any time of year.
Map of Route
Interpretive Signage
There is interpretive signage across Reform Hill. See white numbers on the following map.
1. Indigenous people occupied the area for over 15,000 years.
2. Hume & Hovell Monument erected 1924 celebrates 100 years of exploration.
3. Mining in over 100 reef mines and alluvial deposits found in streams across the area.
4. This old reservoir built in 1934 was the first reticulated storage for Myrtleford.
5. A variety of eucalypts and native flora provide habitat for our native fauna.
6. Austral Grass Tree is a threatened species, flower spikes late spring and summer.
7. Native Flora at Reform Hill, flowers not only in spring but throughout the year.
8. Fauna habitat exists from the leaf litter to the tree tops.
9. Gold dredging in the early 20th Century. Local resistance kept disturbance of the riverine areas to a minimum.
10. The character of industry has left its mark in the Ovens Valley.
11. History tells of an era long gone with the old butter factory, 1903-1966.
Reform Hill Walking Track Legend
Alice Street - Gully Track 1km, Time to return 45 mins
From Alice Street or Great Alpine Road the track takes you past the Hume and Novell Monument and the town's old water storage basin.
All forest vegetation seen along the walks is regrowth as the hill was cleared during the mining days to provide fuel and building materials. The track meets Lookout Road on the left. Keep right past the Austral Grass Trees to the Lookout.
Quarry Track North - Spur Track 1.5km Time to return 50 mins
Starting at the Great Alpine Road turning left onto Quarry Track it meanders along the base of the hill past the Hume & Novell Monument. Turn right at what was the Reform Mine Tunnel. The Spur Track is steeper than Gully Track and will take you past the main shaft and ventilation shaft, which serviced the Reform Mine. Mine workings can be seen as the track finally heads north to the Lookout.
Quarry Track South - Spur Track 1.4km Time return 50 mins
From the Great Alpine Road turning right this track ambles south along the base of the hill and past mining adits from the past.
Castle Dangerous Reef and Lucknow Reef are located on this side of Reform Hill.
The Track goes to Malsem Road and then links left onto Spur Track to the Lookout.
Location
Jones Park, Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail, Myrtleford 3737 Map
