Leaders were Leon Costermans and Noel Schleiger. Frid 20 January 2006.

The early history. We set off on an overcast day. Leon introduced the excursion with a brief outline of the history of Mt Buffalo. The aboriginal people of this district used to visit Mt Buffalo during the Bogong Moth season. Each group was associated with particular peaks or locations.

The mountain was named by the explorers Hume and Hovell in 1824. They saw it, from a distance, as the horn of a recumbent buffalo. Soon afterwards the gold rush resulted in an increase in the European population, and consequent displacement of the aborigines.

In1854, Baron Von Mueller undertook the first systematic exploration of the mountain and described many species of plants.

Leon reminded us of the relationship of vegetation to topography and elevation.

Eurobin Creek. Our first stop was at Eurobin Creek. Leon used the Manna Gum growing on its banks as an exercise in identification, and how to differentiate between similar eucalypts. Then we walked through the bush towards Euobin Falls, identifying some of the understorey species. These included Sassafras, Prickly Currant-bush, Coprosma and Lomatia. As we went we heard the whistling, chirping and calls of many birds.

Climbing the mountain. By now the clouds were lifting and an Alpine Water-skink was seen warming itself on a rock. As we moved higher up the mountain, we noted changes in the trees. The Long-leaved Box (or Bundy), the Mountain Gum and Candlebark were seen.

On the roadside cuttings we could see the transition from the Ordovician folded sedimentary rocks to granite. At one place, kaolonised granite was noted. As we moved higher, tors (e.g. Torpedo Rock) became more frequent.

In the montane zone, Alpine Ash became dominant. At a higher elevation this gave way abruptly to Snow Gum.

On the plateau. At 1330 metres, we reached the Chalet (established in 1910), where we noted Buffalo Sallee scattered amongst the Snow Gums. Burgan was in full flower. Also in evidence was Mountain Hickory Wattle.

Then we went to the Cresta Valley where we saw Striated Pardalotes. We explored a patch of unburned vegetation beyond the lodge. The unburned patch had many understorey species we had not previously seen, such as Alpine Boronia, Baeckea, Podolobium and Poranthera.

We then moved through an adjacent treeless bog where there were several alpine daisies, grasses and orchids.

Walter and Maida Stern

1: Mt Buffalo Sallee, near the Chalet. Jan 1997.
2: View from near the Chalet over the Ovens River Valley.
Photos: Rosalind Smallwood.