The Victoria Dam Trail is is a gentle 7.2km loop through lovely bush in Korung National Park with the added interest of the dam and it's history. There were very few walkers on the occasions we walked the trail so we almost had the place to ourselves.
The entrance to the dam is off Masonmill Road in Carmel. There is a small car park with additional roadside parking at the entrance gates on the road to the reservoir. On weekends when the gates are locked you will need to walk 800m along the bitumen road until you reach the second car park area with information signs about black cockatoos. Access to this car park is weekdays from 8am to 5pm. An advantage of walking the extra distance is being able to view the bush grave of two day old Francis Weston dating from 1876.
Here you pick up the track winding through lovely bush to a lookout area overlooking the Victoria Reservoir and the new dam. There are lovely views of the reservoir, the dam and the Bickley Valley with Perth CBD in the distance.
The new Victoria Dam, which was completed in 1991, has a capacity of 9.5 million kilolitre and is used to supply drinking water to the shire of Kalamunda and sometimes the eastern metropolitan areas when needed.
From the viewing platform take the steps down to the dam and walk across the new dam wall for great views. Follow the bitumen road down the hill towards the rest area.
You will pass the toilet block and a picnic area on your left. The grassed area which sits below the dam wall is popular with bird watchers as it is frequented by feeding birds. This is a great spot to have a rest alongside the paperbarks.
Turn left off the road to the old dam wall. Take some time to explore the old dam wall and read up about the history of Perth's first public water supply. You can choose to turn around here and return the way you came for a shorter walk.
From the old dam wall we passed through the gate and followed the trail towards Bickley Reservoir. A narrow trail winds through the bush for a little while before widening and then coming out onto a dirt road. Follow the dirt road which passes the old information hut before meandering 1.4km down the Munday Brook valley.
The wide gravel trail emerges at picturesque Munday Brook Bridge on the Mason and Bird Heritage Trail. This bridge is reinforced with railway sleepers and was an important part of the Mason and Bird Tramway. It is believed to be the oldest standing all-timber bridge in Australia at 142 years old. On the west side of this bridge is a plaque with further information.
The trail now follows the Mason and Bird Heritage Trail and a section of the Kattamorda Heritage Trail as it climbs up Devils Pinch from Munday Brook Bridge. Devil’s Pinch was the name the teamsters who drove the timber-laden carriages gave to the steep hill on the eastern side of the Munday Brook Bridge. Carriages loaded with timber were free-wheeled where possible but otherwise pulled by horses. Derailments were common and a number of serious accidents occurred, one resulting in the death of 8 horses. Keep an eye out for the hand-written plaque still located in a tree just after the bridge on the eastern side remembering all the horses that died at the site. This is a steep and slippery section and you can just imagine how hard it was to get the fully laden carriages up and down this narrow road. You can see the paving from the old road as you continue to climb.
The trail soon levels out and continues to gradually climb as you follow the Bickley Brook valley. A side trail on the right is signposted for the Kattamorda Trail and the lavender triangle of the Victoria Dam Trail. This narrow trail winds through the bush to emerge at the lower Victoria Dam carpark completing the 7.2km loop.
We have also completed the full Mason and Bird Heritage Trail from Bickley Reservoir and the challenging Bickley Reservoir Walk Trail. You can also hike from Bickley Reservoir to Victoria Dam which is about 3.6km each way. The Kattamorda Heritage Trail is a 31km trail traversing the Darling Range between Mundaring and Orange Grove.
This walk is in a National Park so dogs are not allowed. Toilets can be found in the picnic area below the new dam wall.
We have walked this trail in May ( a little dry but still pleasant) , June (lovely and green) and August when there were more wildflowers out.
After our walk we headed a short distance down the road to Masonmill Gardens for a cuppa and to explore their beautiful gardens and mini golf.
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In the spirit of reconciliation Out and About- Family Nature Connection acknowledges the traditional owners of the Wadjak boodjar (Perth land) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
As always when hiking in the bush please help to reduce the spread of Phytophthora Dieback by sticking to the tracks and paths, staying out of quarantined areas and, if possible, clean your shoes before and after hiking. A spray of 70% methylated spirit and 30% water can be effective.