Getting there

This walk begins and ends opposite the Greenbushes Discovery Centre at the Heritage Park on Blackwood Road, Greenbushes.

38 Blackwood Rd, Greenbushes WA 6254

Maps

A detailed map of the trail can be found at the following link:

http://trailswa.com.au/media/files/documents/Greenbushes_Loop.pdf

Route/Trail notes

1.From the Heritage Park (opposite Discovery Centre), follow the markers south along Blackwood Road and then turn right along Stanifer Street past the 100 year old Anglican Church building.

2. About 50 metres past the Diorite Street intersection, the trail starts along a fire break before entering the Jarrah forest.

3. Use markers as guides to the natu ral pool 1 km from town. It has picnic areas, playground and toilets. Construction of a Boardwalk (disabled access) is planned around the Pool.

4. Cross the road behind the toilet block, climbing through young regeneration and jarrah mixed forest to Schwenke's Dam, walking within sight of it on the northern side, then crossing its wall to head down through Spring Gully.

5. Note the flat rock falls areas with their special flora along the wa y. Listen to the birds!

6. Exit onto a gravel road turning left along Dumpling Gully (a long water course which is on the eastern side of the south west highway).

7 . Follow the trail markers to Mt Jones Dam, also called Vultan Dam. Here lie the remnants of the Vultan Tin Mine which operated in the early 1960's. Tin bearing ore was processed through a gravity sluicing plant in the wetter months.

8. After crossing the dam wall, climbing some steps and entering a mixed jarrah karri forest, you will arrive at the junction with the Bibbulmun Track (5km to the left along the Bibbulmun track is the Blackwood Camp/hut). Turning right on the Bibbulmun Track on its way along the western side of the dam.

9. A climb then takes you past a large old loading ramp used as a platform to load ore from trucks into the Vultan processing plant up until the 1970's. Take the winding t rack through the forest, cross the gravel road and re-enter the forest.

10. Points of note through this pristine forest are the winter creek, numerous habitat trees, flocks of red-tailed black cockatoos and a smaller Chinaman's loading ramp.

11. Eventually the trail widens and exits the forest at the "valley lookout spot" overlooking farmlands in the Blackwood valley. Take a seat and enjoy the paddocks of wildflowers and grass trees, especially in winter.

12. Returning to the forest the trail goes northwards crosses a creek, just before the right hand turn back to Greenbushes along a gravel road. Here the trail leaves the Bibbulmun Track (which continues to Balingup +/-5km).

13. Follow the markers to the creek crossing and go up the valley on the other side.

14. Take note of the changes in vegetation with the changes in soil. There are many varieties of birds and kangaroos are plentiful.

15. After crossing the water supply overflow, turn left heading past the Dumpling Gully water supply dams on your left.

16. After exiting the mixed forest and rehabilitation areas onto Blackwood Road, turn right into town to the Discovery Centre and Heritage Park.

Permits/Costs

$0 Free

Other References

For more info on this walk contact the Greenbushes Discovery centre

• Trail Contact

  Greenbushes Discovery Centre 
  Telephone: (08) 9764 3883 
   Web: http://www.greenbushesinc.asn.au/greenbushes-discovery-centre.html