THE FIRST INHABITANTS The first men to arrive in the Dandenong Ranges were the aborigines. There may have been two migrations with the first being the smaller aborigines similar to the Tasmanian aborigines, perhaps 40 – 60,000 years ago, at the time of an ice age when the sea levels where lower than now and a land bridge existed between Asia and Australia. They were probably later replaced by the second taller race who by this time, were unable to cross Bass Strait into Tasmania because of the higher sea levels. When white man arrived in Victoria in the 1830’s, the Dandenong's were part of the tribal territory of the Wurundjeri tribe. They used the Dandenong's as their summer hunting ground and for gatherings with other adjacent tribes. They came to the hills in search of rest, coolness or to recover after ill-health or battle. They gave the hill a name describing the qualities which attracted them to the place-”Corrhanwarrabul” signifying that this was an attractive place where birds sang, kangaroos jumped and lyrebirds performed.

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At this time the Dandenong's probably had a park like appearance with mighty mountain ashes soaring up to 100 miters into the sky and grassy glades between them. Most of the soils in the Dandenong's are volcanic in nature representing three or more volcanic eruptions. This contributes to the red earth nature of the soils. Coupled with a rainfall up to 1400 mm in parts, this produced one of nature’s wonderlands with permanent streams descending on both the west and the east sides.

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THE WHITE MAN COMETH: The first white man to claim dominion over part of the Dandenong's, was James Clow whose land stretched from the present city of Dandenong to Olinda and Monbulk. He named his property after the aboriginal name “Corrhanwarrabul”. Other settlers followed and soon the whole of the Dandenong's was included in settler’s runs. In the 1850’s, the Dandenong's attracted the notice of many people with a botanical bent, including the famous Baron von Mueller, Victoria’s Government Botanist.

n the 1870’s, von Mueller set up a semi-permanent camp at the Basin in order to make an intense study of the Dandenong's flora. The worth of the mountain ash was recognized by these early adventurers and some were felled for use as masts in the sailing ships of that time. Hence the name “Mast Gully” creek. 

They were soon followed by the timber getters splitting the logs for palings which were used for sides of houses or fencing material. A timber camp was opened at Olinda in 1855 and another at Kallista in the 1860’s, followed by one at Sassafras in the 1870’s. The timber was taken out by a track via the present Ferntree Gully to Oakleigh where the nearest main road existed. The transport was mainly bullock teams.

During the 1880’s and the 1890’s the Dandenong's forests were decimated mainly as a result of poverty stricken city folk being allocated 10 acre farm lets in the Dandenong's on which to make a living. Imagine being shifted from Melbourne to the forest of the Dandenong's and left to fell timber, build your house with your own hands, create a garden to provide food and try to raise enough provisions to survive. It took sturdy folk to see this through. Supplied by: Peter Uwe Schmidt c/- Cuckoo Restaurant

The Dandenong Ranges are an attractive mountain area to the east of Melbourne. Small towns and villages characterize the area with attractive houses nestled into the surrounding forests and beautiful gardens.

With tree-fern gullies and tall forests. Visit the tea houses, restaurants, coffee shops, craft shops, antique shops and Mt Dandenong Observatory for great views. Try walking, cycling or horse riding. Enjoy a picnic at the many Picnic Grounds. Catch the historic Puffing Billy train. Spending time at romantic Bed & Breakfasts or Country Houses. Walk through the National Park Rain Forest and Gardens. See Historic Homes, the Tulip Farm or fish for Rainbow Trout. Visit the Country Markets, Sherbrooke Forest, the Yarra Valley Wineries and Healsville Sanctuary. This is an ideal spot for a Weekend Getaway.

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WALKS ON THE WILD SIDE in the DANDENONG RANGES: Most walks start from Picnic Grounds. Some popular walks include the 1000 steps and Living Bush Nature Trail from the Fern Tree Gully Picnic Ground, Sherbrooke Falls from the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground and Grants Picnic Ground at Kallista. But how about walking on an even wilder side. If you are visiting the Kalorama/Mt. Dandenong area or staying in one of the local charming B and B’s consider exploring the mostly deserted walking tracks of the Mt. Evelyn, Olinda or Doongalla sections of the National Forest. You can enjoy gentle or more challenging walks through dry and wet fern-gully forested areas of the Mt. Evelyn section.

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Five Way Scenic Look Out is an ideal location to launch walks along Ridge Rd. to the Observatory at Mt. Dandenong, Burke’s Lookout, the Kyeema Memorial Cairn or the Doongalla Estate. A short drive or walk to the nearby Olinda Falls Picnic Ground will give you access to the bubbling rock waterfalls along the Olinda Creek.

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If you decide to walk on the wild side be sure to take a map (perhaps a mobile phone), a hat and sunscreen, and observe National Park guidelines such as fire restrictions, respecting local flora and fauna, leaving cats or dogs at home, not littering, and riding mountain bikes only on designated trails. All that’s left is to choose your spot and start walking on the wild side!

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Things to see in the Dandenong' s:
Dandenong Ranges National Park (3215 ha) is an attractive and popular area with its western slopes visible from the City of melbourne. It offers opportunities for walking, sightseeing, picnicking, cycling and car touring. More than 350 plant species have been recorded, along with 130 bird species, 31 species of mammals (most are nocturnal), 21 reptile species.

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The National Park has many walking tracks with views of Melbourne and distant Mountain Ranges. It is home to many ferneries, eucalypt forests, picnic areas, bird-life such as the lyrebirds, crimson Rosella and eastern whip-birds, mammals such as wallabies, bandicoots, echidnas and possums and its flora, including 47 species of native orchids, native grasses, eucalypts and shrubs.

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The best northerly access to the Dandenong Ranges is via Canterbury Road and Montrose onto the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road to Kalorama and Olinda or the southern access via Burwood Highway and Ferntree Gully onto Mt Dandenong Tourist Road to Sassafras.

The many Living Bush Nature Walks are denoted by markers and information sheets which describe the plants along the walks. Most picnic grounds are open to vehicles from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (May to October) and until 6.00 p.m. the rest of the year. There is an entry fee for cars to some Picnic Ground on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. You can catch Bus to the Croydon Train Station from the northern region of the Range or to Upper Ferntree Gully Train Station in the southern region of the Range.

For general information and literature contact Parks Victoria on 131 963 or, if you require more detailed information contact the Dandenong Ranges Tourism Office at Upper Ferntree Gully on (03) 9758 7522.

NATIONAL PARK: It is not hard to be distracted by all the lovely restaurants, tea-rooms, galleries and charming B&B’s found nestled in the villages of the Dandenong Ranges. The superb setting of the National Rhododendron Gardens, Tesselaars Tulip Farm, the Silvan Reservoir Picnic Grounds and William Ricketts Sanctuary regularly attract Australian and overseas visitors. It is therefore easy to forget that the Dandenong Ranges is home to over 130 native bird species, 31 species of native animals, 21 reptiles and 9 amphibians, all contained within the borders of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, created in 1987 by combining five large existing forest reserves. There are also over 300 km of walking tracks scattered throughout the total park area of 3215 hectares. Walks vary from short strolls to more challenging expeditions. National Parks Victoria (Ph. 131963) or Dandenong Ranges Tourist Information Center (Ph. 9758 7522), Ferntree Gully, can provide information and detailed maps on each of the five Park areas: Doongalla, Fern Tree Gully, Sherbrooke, Olinda and Mt. Evelyn.

WALKS ON THE WILD SIDE in the DANDENONG RANGES: Most walks start from Picnic Grounds. Some popular walks include the 1000 steps and Living Bush Nature Trail from the Fern Tree Gully Picnic Ground, Sherbrooke Falls from the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground and Grants Picnic Ground at Kallista. But how about walking on an even wilder side. If you are visiting the Kalorama/Mt. Dandenong area or staying in one of the local charming B and B’s consider exploring the mostly deserted walking tracks of the Mt. Evelyn, Olinda or Doongalla sections of the National Forest. You can enjoy gentle or more challenging walks through dry and wet fern-gully forested areas of the Mt. Evelyn section. A good place to start is from the water tank on Inverness Rd. opposite Gumbirra B and B. Holly Lodge B and B is an ideal location to launch walks along Ridge Rd. to the Observatory at Mt. Dandenong, Burke’s Lookout, the Kyeema Memorial Cairn or the Doongalla Estate. A short drive or walk to the nearby Olinda Falls Picnic Ground will give you access to the bubbling rock waterfalls along the Olinda Creek.

If you decide to walk on the wild side be sure to take a map (perhaps a mobile phone), a hat and sunscreen, and observe National Park guidelines such as fire restrictions, respecting local flora and fauna, leaving cats or dogs at home, not littering, and riding mountain bikes only on designated trails. All that’s left is to choose your spot and start walking on the wild side

References: Park Notes, Parks Victoria