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What to do in Warburton? |
The Yarra River
Warburton nestled in the upper Yarra Valley, offers a
wonderful retreat from the bustle of the City and yet
it is only 90 minutes from Melbourne CBD.
Wineries
Restaurants
Scenic Drives
River & Bush Walks
Art & Crafts
Antiques
Snow Play, swimming
Fishing, horse riding
Rustic setting
Warburton - Some History
The Warburton area is part of the greater Upper Yarra
area, which got its name from the Yarra Yarra tribe of
Aborigines who inhabited the area. The area was explored
and charted in 1845 by Robert Hoddle (Hoddles Creek, is
named after him), he followed the Yarra River to its upper
reaches.
Full of natural beauty.
The gold rush hit the Upper Yarra area in 1858, mining
began in Britannia Creek. In 1859 a goldfield named
"Yankee Jim's Creek" opened, this was renamed Warburton
in 1863 after the gold warden for the district, Charles
Warburton Carr.
The gold mined in the area was primarily alluvial
and the yields were substantial. It was found that
there was gold bearing rock and in 1870, a water wheel
was built at Warburton to drive a crusher. By the
late 1890's the gold had been depleted and it was
getting harder to find easy gold. Most of the the
prospectors left the area leaving behind a few settlers
in the town.
After the gold ran out a timber industry sprang up
in the Warburton area. Wagons of felled trees cut
down by teams of axe men were taken over rough tracks
to Lilydale. From Lilydale the timber could be loaded
on trains and transported to Melbourne, the railway
eventually extended to Warburton in 1901.
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