Melville Caves, named after robber and rogue “Captain Melville”, has a rich history and offers fine views from giant rocky outcrops. The Eastern Walking Circuit commences off Back Road and is currently isolated from the main visitor area and campground. About 700m along the track there is a rock lookout with a good view of the valley. Continue past a long rock down to the fenced bush paddock. The track crosses a creek then heads down through more rock formations before climbing out of the valley and returning to the car park.
Camping
For short stays, camp at Melville Caves Camping Area, one kilometre past the main Melville Caves picnic area. Facilities include toilets and wood barbecues. Collect only dead wood from the ground, or better still use a gas stove or barbecue.
Remnants of history
The Jaara Jaara Aboriginal people of the Kooyoora area depended on natural springs and wells for their water as the area lacks permanent streams. Many large, yet shallow rock wells in the upper surfaces of the granite outcrops supplemented the water supply by storing rainwater. Rock shelters and caves were used for shelter from the weather and their sandy floors have preserved many stone artefacts. Other remnants of Aboriginal occupation are scars in the bark of trees. Bark was used to make bark dishes and shields.
The golden days
European settlement of the area began in the 1840s and mining for alluvial gold had begun by the late 1850s. Substantial finds in the late 1860s began a gold rush that lasted for several years. The gold rush in the Kooyoora area followed soon after the discovery of gold in the Wedderburn district. One of the most famous finds of the Kingower goldfields was the 1857 discovery of the “Blanche Barkley” weighing some 49.5kg. Mining excavations are scattered throughout the park, left behind by the retreating miners who moved on to other fields. Kooyoora State Park was extended to 11,646ha in October 2002 to enhance what remains of Victoria’s Box‐Ironbark forests and woodlands.
Melville Caves picnic ground has shelter, toilets and water.
Kooyoora State Park is a state park in Victoria, located 220 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, and 12 km west of Inglewood.
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the
AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
Kooyoora State Park, with magnificent views and a rich variety of plants and wildlife, protects some of north-central Victoria's outstanding natural features. The park is ideal for many outdoor recreation activities from picnics to sightseeing, rock climbing, orienteering and nature study.
This stunning pocket of the Loddon Valley is becoming one of the region’s worst-kept secrets, although it’s still a place of peace and quiet compared to similar sites of granite outcrops. Climb, camp and explore at Mount Kooyoora. Legend has it the bushranger Captain Melville took refuge here. As did the Indigenous people – find evidence of Aboriginal culture in the rock wells and scar trees. Kooyoora State Park offers a rich variety of plants and wildlife, and is home to some of north-central Victoria's outstanding natural features. The park is ideal for many outdoor recreation activities from picnics to sightseeing, rock climbing, orienteering and bird watching.
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