Nyerimilang Heritage Park is on the
shores of the Gippsland Lakes, 10 km by road north-west of Lakes
Entrance. The park is ideal for picnics featuring attractive gardens
and pastoral surroundings and walks along bush and farm tracks. The
park also offers magnificent views across Reeve Channel and the lakes
beyond.
Things to Do
Nyerimilang is used by local community
groups for activities concerned with history and the natural
environment. These events are advertised locally and are generally
open to all park visitors.
Walking tracks
Whistling Kite Track (0.75
km - 10 mins one way): after a grassland walk, the track passes
through various forest types. The Whistling Kite, a large brown
hawk, nests in the tall Blue Gums that surround this short walk.
Homestead Track (1.1 km - 25
mins one way): the original entrance to Nyerimilang Homestead was
via this track from Maringa Creek crossing. Leaving the homestead,
the track gently descends through moist gully vegetation to swamp,
then salt marsh.
Cliff Top Walk: affords the
visitor panoramic views of the nearby lake system and Bass Strait
beyond. The meandering, mostly level track is 1.7 km, 30 minutes one
way.
Kurrajong Track (0.75 km -
10 mins one way): this track is a link between Cliff Top and
Homestead tracks. The Kurrajong, an evergreen native tree, is most
obvious on the northern end of this track.
Salt Marsh Track (1.2 km -
25 mins one way): the track is from the Kalimna West road to Reeve
Channel. The salt marsh environment surrounding the tidal Maringa
Creek gives way to the sandy shoreline of the lake system.
Bird Hide Track (0.4 km - 5
mins one way): commences at the intersection of Cliff Top Walk and
Salt Marsh Track. A pleasant resting point to view the wildlife of
the salt marsh.
Facilities
In the grounds of the homestead
there are picnic tables and toilets, with facilities for the
disabled.
Souvenirs and tourist information
are available in the Friends of Nyerimilang shop at the Park
entrance.
Camping is not permitted, but a
wide range of accommodation is available in Lakes Entrance, Metung
and Bairnsdale.
Heritage
The land that is now Nyerimilang
Heritage Park was first owned by Mr A Murray in 1884. He later
transferred it to Frank Stuart of Melbourne who built a home as a base
for fishing and shooting holidays at the Gippsland Lakes. During the
early 1930s, his son Frank Jnr extended the house, developed the
surrounding gardens and lived in style at Nyerimilang complete with
housemaids and a gardener. When Frank Stuart Jnr died in 1936 his
widow gave the property to the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland for use
as a Boys' Training Farm.
William Buckland, the "quiet
millionaire", purchased Nyerimilang in the 1940s and occasionally used
it as a holiday home. After he died in 1964 the property changed hands
again before being purchased by the Victorian Government in 1976.
A display featuring the history of
Nyerimilang and the natural resources and history of the Gippsland
Lakes may be seen in the homestead. A collection of reference material
is also available in the homestead library.
Fauna
Nyerimilang attracts many species of
birds including honeyeaters, water birds and birds of prey. A large
dam below the homestead provides a new habitat of wildlife in the
Park.
Vegetation
The semi-formal gardens and lawns
surrounding the homestead contain an interesting collection of exotic
and native species. Elsewhere, the majestic Gippsland Blue Gums and
Coast Grey Box on the cliff tops contrast with the marshland in the
valley of Maringa Creek.
The East Gippsland Garden will
represent the flora communities of East Gippsland. The garden is
currently being developed by the Friends of Nyerimilang, Society for
Growing Australian Plants- Bairnsdale Group and Parks Victoria.
Looking After
the Park
Native plants and animals and
historic features are protected.
Leave the park as you find it.
How to Get
There
Access to Nyerimilang Heritage Park is
from the Princes Highway via either the Nungurner Road or the
Metung-Kalimna West Road. Signs indicate the appropriate turnoffs from
the highway to the park. The park is open daily until sunset and the
homestead is open when Rangers are on duty, normally from 9:00 AM to
4:00 PM. Group visits should be arranged in advance with the Rangers.
