To Steavenson Falls

After a wonderful time at Bruno's Sculpture Gardens we were off to Steavenson Falls.  The falls is Marysville's claim to fame for tourism as the falls are one of the tallest in Victoria with 5 cascades and a height of 400 feet.  The falls were named after John Steavenson who first visited the site of Marysville while surveying for a road to the gold mines.

Steavenson Falls was not missed by the fires and most of the man mad infrastructure built there was lost and extensive damage was done to the forest in the area.  It was hard to see the obvious damage that was done though regrowth was already on the way.  But what was hard to see and hear was how seeing the falls for the first time after the fires affected Natalie and Tara.  They both were shocked by all the damage and loss.  Before the fires Natalie said you couldn't see the falls from the car park...on this day there was no problem seeing the falls from the car park.

I can only imagine how magnificent the falls were and already regrowth was well on its way.  I have seen what devastation bush fires (or wildfires as I would call them being from the U.S.) can wreak as I was living just outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming back in the summer of 1988 when Yellowstone National Park went up in flames but there's a difference in the speed of regrowth.  Unlike what I was seeing in Australia Yellowstone's regrowth takes much longer and the main difference I'm guessing is the type of climate.  I was amazed at how much quicker regrowth happens in a rain forest/tropical climate versus what I saw in Wyoming.  So different but devastating to all who are touched by bush fires/wildfires.

Though there was an element of sadness in visiting Marysville and Steavenson Falls there was also an air of determination and passion by those I encountered and I commend those people for their true grit.  It was yet another great day in Victoria! 

Until next time...have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures taken at Steavenson Falls & Marysville here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow