ABOUT US

Plenty Gorge Mountain Bike Club are custodians of the trails within the 1,350 hectares of Plenty Gorge Park in the north-east of Melbourne. The 130+ kilometres of trails straddle the Plenty River, spanning 11km of its southerly path towards the Yarra River, cutting a steep, distinctive gorge providing elevation for the undulating old-school XC technical singletrack that features throughout the network. Be ready for short, punchy climbs, flowing singletrack and rocky technical features that punctuate the maze of trails. We recommend at least an intermediate level of skill to make the most of the gorge, and suggest to drop into one of our regular club rides to get a feel of the terrain and familiarise yourself with the network.

History of the land

The lands of Plenty Gorge form part of the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri people, who have maintained a deep and continuing connection to these lands for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence reveals that the Traditional Owners visited the Plenty Gorge region on a seasonal basis for generations, with cultural materials found throughout the area indicating sophisticated land management practices.

The arrival of Europeans in the 1830s marked a dramatic transformation of the Plenty Gorge landscape. By 1837, pastoral squatters had claimed large areas of land throughout the region for their sheep and cattle operations. The rich volcanic soils and reliable water supply of the Plenty River made the area attractive for agricultural development. In 1841, the area was officially proclaimed as a "settled district" within Port Phillip, formalising European control over the landscape. This history has been evidenced by the Old Bridge Inn Discovery made during excavations of the Mernda Rail Line, and it was about 1870 when the Bridge Inn was relocated to its present site.

The clearing of native vegetation for agriculture fundamentally altered the landscape character of Plenty Gorge. Previously diverse native woodlands, grasslands and forests gave way to farmland and eventually residential areas. This transformation represented one of the most significant changes to the area, fundamentally altering the ecological balance that had been maintained by Indigenous fire management for thousands of years.

During World War 2 the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had a Hygiene Training Camp located on the Plenty River, at the southern end of the gorge. The camp was built in August 1943 from entirely salvaged materials for instructional purposes to support construction of latrines, grease-traps, water purification and malaria control. It is understood that an aircraft fuselage was located at the camp throughout its use. The purpose of the camp diminished with the end of World War 2 and was shut in January 1946, with the RAAF Medical Training Unit disbanding. Evidence of the camp, a mess hall, Officer’s accommodation, stores, workshops and hygiene standards of the time can still be found on the left-hand bank when walking from Greensborough to Janefield.

The industrial era brought additional changes to the landscape. A significant development was the establishment of a Boral quarry in Plenty, which operated until the early 1970s when it was forced to close due to groundwater seeping through the quarry walls. This industrial site would later become an important part of the modern park system.

The 1980s marked a crucial turning point in the history of Plenty Gorge. The Victorian State Government recognised the need to protect the natural and heritage features of the area for future generations. The decision to establish Plenty Gorge Park represented a significant shift from the previous 150 years of agricultural and industrial use back toward conservation and sustainable recreation. However, the landscape had been fundamentally altered by European settlement, with much of the original vegetation cleared and ecosystems disrupted.

A major milestone in the park's development came in 1997 when Parks Victoria purchased the former Boral quarry site. After two years of rehabilitation work, the site was transformed into Yellow Gum Park, featuring the distinctive Blue Lake formed in the old quarry pit that was opened to the public in 1999.

Ecological and Biodiversity Significance

Plenty Gorge Park holds the greatest diversity of natural habitats of all parks in the Greater Melbourne area. This diversity is partly due to the park's unique position between two distinct geological formations - the undulating hills and ridges formed during the Silurian period on the eastern side, and the flat basalt plain on the western side approximately 400 million years ago.

The park supports 631 native flora species and 262 recorded native fauna species, including over 200 bird species, several reptiles, kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas. The Plenty River itself provides habitat for numerous fish species and other aquatic vertebrates.