Just about every Forest District had one… the State forest drive.
Most people enjoy a leisurely drive in the country, or through the bush, which includes a scenic spot for short walk or a picnic.
Staff have always taken pride in their patch of forest and were keen to make the bush available to locals and visitors. And what better way than to develop a forest drive.
Some forest drives were promoted with no more than a photocopied A4 sheet of paper with a map and maybe some signposts along the route. But drivers not only had to contend with bored or carsick kids in the back seat, there were also dusty or muddy gravel roads to negotiate and the ever-present fear of unexpectedly coming face-to-face with a thundering big log truck.
Some larger coloured mapsheets were produced by the Drafting Branch for major tourist destinations like the Grampians, Central Highlands and Toolangi.
In the late 1970s, the Forests Commission responded to the growing interest and developed six major Forest Drives around the state. They were paired with large A1 sized coloured posters which became very popular and were widely sold.
There was a resurgence in the 1980s but many of the Forest Drives seem to have been abandoned over the years.
About 20 years ago, I was filling my car at my local petrol station during Easter and watching the endless stream of caravans and campers heading on their way east to Lakes Entrance and beyond. Meanwhile, I could see the mountains and foothills to my north, and I had a “brain fart” that a hinterland drive might be an idea to showcase our wonderful State Forests.
Some cash was secured from somewhere (I can’t quite remember now), and Suzette Fullerton from Traralgon enthusiastically took up the challenge.
The project was different from many other Forest Drives because it was developed very closely with VicRoads, local municipalities, tourism authorities and small businesses. Consultants with expertise with “tourism products” were wisely engaged.
The final result, the West Gippsland Hinterland Drive, far surpassed anything that I had originally imagined.
The Hinterland Drive is a return route from Melbourne that is best savoured over a couple of days. It combines great scenery, good food, wineries, specialty shops and accommodation. Importantly, it features many “wow factor” sites in the bush including a walk to the Ada Tree, the old trestle bridge at Noojee, the opportunity to stop for a pint of cleansing ale and a selfie with the dinosaur at the historic Nooj Pub is a must, and then a walk to the spectacular Toorongo Falls.
The Drive then follows the bitumen road from Icy Creek to Mt Baw Baw via Tanjil Bren, then back down the gravel South Face Road, with a stroll to Mushroom Rocks, a bite to eat at the eclectic Stockyard in Rawson Village and ending at historic Walhalla, before returning to the Princes Highway. There are a couple of alternative side routes from Warragul and Drouin available.
Suzette later developed the Aberfeldy Four-Wheel-Drive Route for the more adventurous. I felt very proud of her achievements.
The routes are well promoted on tourism websites, but disappointingly there is no acknowledgment of the role the Department played in funding, researching and developing them.
https://www.visitgippsland.com.au/do-and-see/drives/west-gippsland-hinterland-drive
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 