Mount Hotham Cross Country Snowshoe
Mt Hotham's Shared Trail Network with over 35km of trails and with circuits ranging in length from 2km to 15km, there is something for everyone.
As the resort is surrounded by the spectacular Alpine National Park, all of the trails include spectacular scenery and plenty of fresh air!
Cobungra Ditch - Mt Hotham
The Cobungra Ditch
Length: 17km circuit. Approximately 7hrs. Grade 3, mostly level, formed track with some steps. Some bushwalking experience recommended.
The Cobungra Ditch Walk can be done as a one-way 12.5km walk or completed as an 17km circuit (via the Brabralung Trail and Brandy Ck Link Tk). Alternatively the East & West Access tracks on The Big Spur can create shorter circuits.The northern end of the walk is accessible from the Great Alpine Road via the Davenport Access Track, Hotham Village. Whilst the southern end of the track is accessible from Brandy Creek, halfway between Hotham and Dinner Plain.
The Ditch takes walkers on a journey on how this water race was constructed and used. This walk is a must-do for all visitors. See Track Notes for more details.
The Cross - Great Alpine Road
The highest road and the most spectacular views, nothing to get ‘cross’ about on a fine day and in a reliable vehicle!
A walk to the summit is available from this viewing spot. Lock the car and head 100m down the road towards the village follow the management road to the right (past the locked gate) and take the track 400metres to the summit of Mt Hotham.
Stay on the track and please don’t walk across the sensitive alpine grasses and herbs.
Blowhard Hut - Great Alpine Road
The huts of the miners and cattlemen were not the only valuable shelters for those in the alpine regions.
During the 1920s with the increase of motoring traffic traversing the Alpine Road, the huts were built in conjunction with the road upgrades.
Originally recommended by superintendent of the Hotham Country Roads Board (CRB) crew, Bill Spargo (miner and later discoverer of the famous Red Robin mine) recommended the erection of these valuable shelters for motorist.
Other CRB shelters were erected at strategic points along the Alpine road at: Corbett’s Flat, Blowhard, Diamantina Springs, Whiskey Flat, Dinner Plain and Boggy Creek Hut towards Omeo from Dinner Plain.
The Black Hole - Great Alpine Road
Once a busy mining landscape, today the Black Hole has returned to wilderness. During Victoria’s golden era the locality was dotted with dozens of mining camps, huts, machinery sites and alluvial workings, all threaded together with a web of pack tracks. The Black Hole would have been a remarkable place to visit one hundred years ago.
Today the upper reaches of this valley are inaccessible, skirted only by the Great Alpine Road and the Bon Accord Walking Track. Scattered throughout these hills lie many dozens of historically important archaeological sites that one day may provide us with a greater insight into the pioneering individuals of this region.
Olive Branch- Great Alpine Road
The Great Alpine Road - Black Hole
The Great Alpine Road History Drive - explore.mthotham.com.au
Andrew Swift
Dungeys Hollow - Great Alpine Road
Corbetts Flat - Great Alpine Road
During the first decade of the Victorian gold rushes when the first Europeans began to cross the Divide on their quest for gold, some saw the opportunity that this once isolation and rugged landscape held. Polly Corbett was one of those unique females that recognised the opportunity to provide accommodation, food and perhaps a little sly grog to passing traffic between the North East and Gippsland goldfields.
Long after Polly’s shanty fell into ruins quartz reef mines were opened and discovered in the area.
The Biplane mine was one of the bigger mines which peak years were during the 1920s. This mine saw a significant camp and the erection of a massive 15-head stamp batterly on the East branch of the Ovens River down in the Black Hole.
One of the Country Roads Board shelters was also built nearby in the 1920s, serving as a refuge to early motorists.
Deer Management in Victorian Alpine National Parks with Dan Brown (Parks Victoria)
Daniel Brown's Deer Management presentation at the Innovation in Landscape Conservation forum held 17 May 2016. Daniel has worked in environmental management with public land management agencies for more than 10 years. His expertise includes fire ecology, invasive species management, strategic planning, community engagement and environmental monitoring. Daniel is employed by Parks Victoria where he leads the regional planning team for Eastern Victoria.
The trial deer control program in the Alpine National Park receives support through the Victorian Alpine Peatland Protection Program: an initiative jointly funded by Parks Victoria, the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme (via the North East, West Gippsland and East Gippsland Catchment Management Authorities).
Suzuki ANC Alpine Slalom at Hotham
All the action from the Hotham ANC leg of the Suzuki National Snowsport Championships.
Mt Hotham breeds independance
AMG member Michael Dalli whos suffers from MS masters the dual ski at MT Hotham. More info at ablemanagement.com.au
Mt Hotham Instructor and sit skier
AMG member Mandy gets a lesson from Andy Norton of the Mt Hotham Snowsports school. More info at ablemanagement.com.au
Mountain Pygmy Possum, 20 years of research. Dr Ian Mansergh. Part 2
Ecological connectivity of habitats is a major issue for conservation in Australia at multiple scales. The endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is the only Australian mammal restricted to the alpine subalpine region and seen as the canary in the coal mine for global warming in Australia. Major alpine resorts and downhill skiing occur within each of its three regional and genetically distinct populations generating a history of land use and management conflicts. In the 1980s, the Mt Higginbotham Mt Loch population (bisected by the Mt Hotham Alpine Resort) was (and remains) the largest, most viable population supporting the largest part of the total global population. In 1986 a corridor and tunnel were constructed on Mt Higginbotham, to mimic the boulder-field habitat and restore ecological connectivity of Burramys which was disrupted by a road and resort infrastructure. Facilitating access to migratory males, the tunnel of love achieved early notoriety and scientific success (Mansergh and Scotts 1989).
Analysis of annual monitoring data since 1981 indicates positive long-term effect of the tunnel. Habitat and population connectivity was restored and importantly remained ecologically within the larger demographic unit, local extinction being avoided. Although there were edaphic differences between the disturbed (tunnel) and control sites, at the latter: population abundance increased; social age structure levels and survivability were restored; however, weights and fecundity remained lower. This paper reports on: the continuing ecological success of this installation over 23 years; subsequent efforts at other sites; and some of the broader and positive societal effects of the experiment in the scientific, educational and popular literature.
More than a River - The Murray-Darling system and its people
Produced by the former Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) circa 2005.
Journey down Australia's longest rivers, The Darling and The Murray, with Dermott Brereton. Catch a glimpse of into their past, present and future through the lives and stories of the people who live among them.
The River Murray, in particular, is much more than a river. It plays a central part in the lives of many Australians. People depend on it for their food and water, culture, traditions, livelihood, leisure, as a natural landscape and a place of great beauty.
There is evidence however that the River Murray is in trouble. Listen to the different opinions of people along the river and discover their shared passion for finding ways to protect its future.
Oi Mate! - Episode 2: July - Presented by Boardworld & Olliepop Films
Boardworld and Olliepop Films present 'Oi Mate!' - a new series from the land down under. Oi Mate! follows a group of snowboarders as they live and breathe the Australian snow season. This four-part series travels all over Australia in the search of the best snowboarding on offer.
During July we went all over the place. From a private shoot up at Thredbo Resort with DC Pro Ryan Tiene and Charles Beckinsale, to a night shoot and a river gap at Falls Creek, park laps at Perisher with Jye Kearney and some jibbing at Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort with the Fyve & Forum boys.
Riders: Jye Kearney, Matto Smith, Mat Galina, Tom Clairs, Matt Sedunary, Mitch Williams, Harley Trivic, Sean Thompson, Greg Murray, Ryan Tiene, Charles Beckinsale.
Proudly supported by Forum Snowboards, FYVE Snowboards, Mint Tours, Rhythm Snowboard Shop and Perisher.
Camera 1: Jeremy Richardson
Camera 2: Rick Martinez
Animation: Luke Mallinson @ Giraffe, Visual Communications Management.
New Tunnel of Love for the endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum
Victoria (Australia) | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Victoria (Australia)
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Victoria (abbreviated as Vic) is a state in south-eastern Australia. Victoria is Australia's most densely populated state and its second-most populous state overall. Most of its population lives concentrated in the area surrounding Port Phillip Bay, which includes the metropolitan area of its state capital and largest city, Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. Geographically the smallest state on the Australian mainland, Victoria is bordered by Bass Strait and Tasmania to the south,New South Wales to the north, the Tasman Sea to the east, and South Australia to the west.
The area that is now known as Victoria is the home of many Aboriginal people groups, including the Boon wurrung, the Bratauolung, the Djadjawurrung, the Gunai, the Gunditjmara, the Taungurong, the Wathaurong, the Wurundjeri, and the Yorta Yorta. There were more than 30 Aboriginal languages spoken in the area prior to the European settlement of Australia. The Kulin nation is an alliance of five Aboriginal nations which makes up much of the central part of the state.With Great Britain having claimed the entire Australian continent east of the 135th meridian east in 1788, Victoria formed part of the wider colony of New South Wales. The first European settlement in the area occurred in 1803 at Sullivan Bay, and much of what is now Victoria was included in 1836 in the Port Phillip District, an administrative division of New South Wales. Named in honour of Queen Victoria, who signed the division's separation from New South Wales, the colony was officially established in 1851 and achieved self government in 1855.
The Victorian gold rush in the 1850s and 1860s significantly increased both the population and wealth of the colony, and by the time of the Federation of Australia in 1901, Melbourne had become the largest city and leading financial centre in Australasia. Melbourne served as federal capital of Australia until the construction of Canberra in 1927, with the Federal Parliament meeting in Melbourne's Parliament House and all principal offices of the federal government being based in Melbourne.
Politically, Victoria has 37 seats in the Australian House of Representatives and 12 seats in the Australian Senate. At state level, the Parliament of Victoria consists of the Legislative Assembly (the lower house) and the Legislative Council (the upper house). The Labor Party led Daniel Andrews as premier has governed Victoria since 2014. The personal representative of the Queen of Australia in the state is the Governor of Victoria, currently Linda Dessau (in office since 2015). Victoria is divided into 79 municipal districts, including 33 cities, although a number of unincorporated areas still exist, which the state administers directly.
The economy of Victoria is highly diversified, with service sectors including financial and property services, health, education, wholesale, retail, hospitality and manufacturing constitute the majority of employment. Victoria's total gross state product (GSP) ranks second in Australia, although Victoria ranks fourth in terms of GSP per capita because of its limited mining activity. Culturally, Melbourne hosts a number of museums, art galleries, and theatres, and is also described as the world's sporting capital. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, the largest stadium in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The ground is also considered the spiritual home of Australian cricket and Australian rules football, and hosts the grand final of the Australian Football League (AFL) each year, drawing crowds of approximately 100,000. Victoria has eight public universities, with the oldest, the University of Melbourne, dating from 1853.
OI MATE! - Episode 1: Early Season - Boardworld / Olliepop Films - Snowboarding / Australia
Boardworld and Olliepop Films present 'Oi Mate!' - a new series from the land down under.
Oi Mate! follows a group of snowboarders as they live and breathe the Australian snow season. This four-part series travels all over Australia in the search of the best snowboarding on offer. Episode 1 takes us to Thredbo Resort, Jindabyne, Perisher Resort and Falls Creek Alpine Resort.
Proudly supported by Forum Snowboards, FYVE Snowboards, Mint Tours, Rhythm Snowboard Shop and Perisher.
Riders: Mitch Williams, Matt Sedunary, Charlie Steinbacher, Tom Reilly, Harley Trivic and Mat Galina.
Camera 1: Jeremy Richardson
Camera 2: Rick Martinez
Animation: Luke Mallinson @ Giraffe, Visual Communications Management.
Local government in Victoria | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Local government in Victoria
00:00:55 1 History
00:04:28 2 General characteristics
00:06:55 3 Political composition
00:08:28 4 Municipalities of Greater Melbourne
00:09:12 5 Unincorporated areas
00:10:55 6 See also
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Local government in the Australian state of Victoria describes the 79 municipal districts often referred to as local government areas (LGAs). As at 2016, there were 79 LGAs, classified as:
cities—34
shires—38
rural cities—6 and
borough—1.In addition to the LGAs, there are also 10 small islands and ski resorts which are unincorporated areas and administered either by the state or management boards. Council elections are held every four years on the fourth Saturday in October.The last council elections were held on 22 October 2016. Election was not held for Geelong, which has been under administration since 2016. 637 local councillors were elected in the 78 councils contested.