Sailors Falls Mineral Spring
Sailors Falls spring was discovered during the fairly short burst of mining in Sailors Creek following John Egan's discovery of gold at Wombat Flat in 1851. The creek was believed to have been named by former sailors mining in the area. The original Sailors Falls Reserve, which includes the falls and mineral springs, was in dispute from 1886 intermittently until 1980. Quarrying, timber-felling and illegal building occurred within the reserve and a church was built above it, only to be torn down again later. The present reserve was not established until 1980.
Facilities
Facilities include car parking, toilets, shelter with picnic tables and seats, BBQ, walking tracks and views of the Sailors Falls. There are some nice murals on the walls of the shelter.
Sailors Falls Spring
At the top of the valley near the carpark is the Sailors Falls Spring which has a tap.
The discovery of gold at Clunes in 1851 lured people from all walks of life inland.Two sailors, John Lancey and James Ballentyne, trekking overland from Geelong to the "Wombat Diggings" chanced upon gold here in the Spring of that year. The gold, found in the walls of Sailors Creek, was mined during the 1850s; the springs were uncovered by the miners during that time.
In December 1910, WH Ferguson, the surveyor, wrote to The Secretary for Mines, describing Sailors Falls thus: "The place is very picturesque... the Sailor's Creek drops over a basalt escarpment, the gorge is well-protected from strong winds, and there is a fine growth of wild musk, and other native trees..."
Sailors Falls' mineral water
Ferguson went on to add "... the waters appear to issue from centre-country in Ordovician slates and sandstones... The mineral water is palatable, the flow is of medium quantity, only a small amount of gas appears to issue..." and that the spring" ... is situated in such pleasant surroundings".
Sailors Falls Mineral Spring (MS 60) is just one of five mineral springs that have been found nearby; the others are Old Tom Creek (MS 58), Bagnalls (MS 50), Sailors Creek (MS 48) and Sailors Flat (MS 45). The mineral springs at Sailors Falls have moderately high levels of total soluble salts, bicarbonate and calcium.
Ordovician era: about 450 million years ago
How To Get There
Take the Ballan/Melbourne road from the Daylesford Post Office roundabout. After 8km you will see the Sailors Falls Reserve on the right which has a very large wrought-iron open notice. Follow the concrete path, which has steps and hand-rails, down to the valley floor. Then walk downstream along the earthen path and cross the bridge. Sailors Falls Mineral Spring A is a piped spring set in a concrete/stone depression on the right, while Sailors Falls Mineral Spring B lies 10m further along on the left.
Note: The Mineral Springs Loop Walk to the springs in the valley floor is temporarily closed due to significant damage in a storm event.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are permitted on leash.
For more information about mineral springs in Victoria, see "From The Spa Country, A Field Guide to 65 Mineral Springs of the Central Highlands, Victoria", published by Edward and Maura Wishart
Photos:
Location
2430 Ballan-Daylesford Road, Sailors Falls 3461 View Map
