Anglesea Perimeter Walk

By Dot Hutton

The Anglesea Perimeter Walk was established in recognition of the unusually high quality of natural heathland and woodlands surrounding Anglesea.

Much of this is now included in the Great Otway National Park. Don Hutton, a well-known environmentalist and bushwalker, saw the value in having car-free access to a continuous walking track that showcased some of the biodiversity and beauty so close to Anglesea. After Don’s death in 2007, Waverley Bushwalking Club members, ANGAIR members, university colleagues and friends contributed funds to enable the establishment of this route as a walk.

Don had identified possible ways in which existing tracks could be linked to make a circuit around Anglesea township. In 2008, a team of ANGAIR members continued the track-finding work. They decided not to pass through some of the more sensitive areas, such as the large stands of grass tree, fearing the introduction of Phytophthora cinnamomi (Cinnamon fungus), an exotic fungal organism that the attacks the roots, thereby dehydrating the plants. This organism can become as rampant as COVID.

Don Hutton, a well-known environmentalist and bushwalker, had the vision for a continuous walking track that showcased some of the biodiversity and beauty so close to Anglesea. Seats at Demon Bluff Lookout on the Anglesea Perimeter Walk.

Once a feasible map was drawn up, negotiations began with Surf Coast Shire Council (SCS), the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC), Parks Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Alcoa. This was no small undertaking. The global financial crisis was already beginning to bite. Government organisations were experiencing staff cut backs and many organisational restructuring changes were underway. The person we spoke to one week could be replaced by someone struggling to come up to speed with their new job, and without access to the history of negotiations. Progress was slow.

At the time, Parks Victoria was underresourced to cope with the task of managing the recently declared (2004) Great Otway National Park (GONP) that now stretched from near Bells Beach to Cape Otway. They were not at all ready to see the development of new tracks, especially one that was not already drawn on the official maps. While it is possible to be very sympathetic with this position, it was extremely frustrating at the time. After many months, the final negotiation with Parks Victoria meant that the Anglesea Perimeter Walk followed more closed 4WD tracks than was originally proposed. However, this concession did mean that a continuous walk became possible. Since the establishment of the walk, Parks Victoria has promptly replaced damaged signs in the national park. They gave permission for two seats to be placed on Demon’s Lookout, above Demon’s Bluff, a point shown on old maps under the Eumerella Scout Camp. These seats were made at the Anglesea Men’s Shed and installed by Parks Victoria.

A strange situation arose in the discussion with DELWP, Alcoa and the Surf Coast Shire Council. At the time, it was not at all certain who had responsibility for particular areas of land bordering the Alcoa Leasehold and that section of the leasehold called the Anglesea Heath. Once it was established that DELWP cared for the riparian forest between the Anglesea River and Coalmine Road, permission was refused for the walk to

pass through this area, as riparian forests are considered rare and endangered in Victoria. This felt strange at the time because the Anglesea Pony Club is right in the middle of this forest.

As a consequence of the refusal, the walk is diverted from Coalmine Road, along the east of the Anglesea River to meet Bingley Parade. It crosses the Anglesea River using the three small bridges to Coogoorah Park. Through the whole history of the walk, the SCS staff have continued to be very supportive, seeing its value to the local community and to tourism. Staff have gone out of their way to assist at critical points. Alcoa was also helpful, suggesting possible routes and allowing the use of their existing square aluminium posts to carry track signs. Signage was quite an adventure. The aim was to have a track that could be followed without a map or a description. Consequently, signage took our entire initial $6,000 budget. Few walks of this length and diversity have been established on such a lean budget. The Anglesea Perimeter Walk (APW) was finally established in October 2010. It links with the Surf Coast Walk established in 2012. The APW is on varied tracks, some gravel paths, some closed four-wheel drive roads, and some narrow, single file bush tracks. Minor route changes have occurred in the last decade due to cliff erosion and the closing of the Alcoa Anglesea mine and power station. The track itself is not challenging, generally rated as easy/ medium depending on distance walked. It ranges in height from sea level to 126 meters at the euphemistically named Mount Ingoldsby. The Anglesea Perimeter Walk is through some very sensitive vegetation, so walkers are requested to remain on track. The logo on the signs represents a star chart because Don’s final years at Monash University were spent teaching astronomy. Navigating by the stars was a passion of his. Many of the original signs directing users have deteriorated in the difficult coastal conditions.

To reduce future maintenance requirements, new signs are made of marine-grade aluminium. ANGAIR members have been busy replacing worn signage on the walk. The new signs were purchased with contributions

Dot Hutton (right) with Les Lyons, who was instrumental in installing new signage on the Anglesea Perimeter Walk, making it easier for walkers to follow and enjoy. from the Hutton family and a community grant from the Anglesea and Winchelsea Community Bank. The APW can be accessed at a number of locations in and around Anglesea. It is a great way to view spectacular and varied scenery and vegetation including beaches, wetlands, woodlands and heathlands.

It is possible for families to complete short loops of the track of 3 to 5km, walk 12km loops that follow half the track, or for the really fit, complete the whole 22km in the one day. The full walk starts and finishes near the Anglesea Information Centre by the Anglesea River. Descriptions of the Eastern and Western loops of the APW can be found at bushwalkingvictoria.org.au.

Thank you to the following people for their substantial contribution to the success of the Anglesea Perimeter Walk: Nicky Angus, Justin Conn, Pauline and Maurie Dean, Peter Forster, Jill and Geoff Giles, Don Hutton (died 2007), Les Lyons, Bill McKellar, Eathorne Mitchell, Helen Tutt (died 2018), Jim Tutt and family and friends.

Thanks also to the Anglesea and Winchelsea Community Bank for a grant for the renewed signage.