History and heritage – Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region is home to Australia’s oldest steam train railway, original nineteenth century homesteads and enough antique shops to help you delay your return to the city.

Steam travel through fern gullies and thick forest
A reminder of the romantic days of steam travel, Puffing Billy chuffs back and forth along a 25 kilometre track between Belgrave, Emerald Lake Park and Gembrook, through thick forest, cool fern gullies and rolling farmland.

The railway line was built in 1900 to develop the region, but failed when a landslide blocked the line in 1953. Local enthusiasts rallied to save the railway from government closure and got the train running again on its unique narrow-gauge rails. Today visitors can enjoy first-class meals in refurbished dining cars serving up Yarra Valley food and wine, or take the children to ride an authentic working steam version of the fictional character Thomas the Tank Engine.

Historic farms and homesteads
Gulf Station, one of the Yarra Valley’s oldest farms, was settled in the 1850s and was a supplier of meat to goldminers. The farm boasts the most complete group of solid timber slab buildings in Victoria and showcases original farm implements and household items that reveal nineteenth century daily life. The homestead garden features a planting of bulbs, perennials, roses and fruit trees from the Victorian era.

Mont de Lancey, an historic pioneer home built of handmade bricks, features an operating blacksmith shop, museum, a chapel, homestead and gardens.