Grandpa’s Guide to Driving in Bacchus Marsh

When I was young, I was really fond of reading. And if I remember it correctly, one of my favorite topics to read about was mythology (Greek, Roman, Norse —they’re all interesting!).

In the Greek mythology, I was really fond of the character of Bacchus, the god of wine. And because of my favorite mythology character, I became interested with the town of Bacchus Marsh. And when I was old enough and could afford to travel using my own money, I made sure that I have a free schedule. I packed my bags, booked a car (and about booking cars, Bacchus Marsh Car Rental has the perfect car for you! The site allows you its clients to compare rental rates of top car companies thus, making it easier for people to book cars which are very flexible for their budget!), and headed off to Bacchus Marsh.

Bacchus Marsh is an alluring town surrounded by orchards and market gardens. Bacchus Marsh is an urban center and suburban locality in Victoria, Australia. It is about 50 and 14 kilometers from the west of Melbourne and Melton respectively.

Bacchus Marsh has a population of about 5,566. It is the largest urban area in the local government area of Shire of Moorabool. And being located between two rivers (Lerdergerg and Werribee Rivers), Bacchus Marsh became large producer of fruits and vegetables.

The town was named after a Captain William Henry Bacchus who occupied the valley in 1838. (The “Marsh” part is associated with the previous condition of the place —marshland). During the 1830s, the valley was considered as site settlement by retired military officers. But in 1851 (when gold was found in the nearby town of Ballarat), Bacchus Marsh began to become known because an inn located in the area (The Borden Inn) became a stopover for people traveling from Melbourne to the goldmines. It was considered as the first coaching stop on the route (and people argue that it is also the first coaching stop in the state). And due to the growth of businesses and settlements, in 1971, Bacchus Marsh became a municipality.

And some of the many attractions of Bacchus Marsh are:

1. The Long Forest Flora Reserve

A naturally occurring patch of mallee, south of the Grate Dividing Range, The Long Forest Flora Reserve is a beautiful place for various activities such as strolling, nature study, and bird watching.

One time, mallee scrub was common in the area. But as the climate cooled, most of the mallee scrub was replaced by eucalypt forest (the twist is that the Reserve is situated on a bed of shale and sandstone which is not favorable for eucalypts). Aside from eucalypts, you’ll also find turkey bush, the fragrant salt-bush, and some rare orchids. The Reserve also has about 200 species of birds, as well as kangaroos, koalas, echinas, wallabies, possums, and gliders.

Even though the Reserve is open for visitors, one should not forget not to throw garbage in the walking tracks. Camping and campfires are also prohibited.

2. The Pykes Creek Reservoir

From the Pykes Creek exit off the freeway, turn right across the overpass and you’ll soon see a side road on the left that will bring you to the Pykes Creek Reservoir.

Pykes Creek Reservoir was completed in 1911 and named after an early European settler.

The place has a beautiful picnic area and you can also go boating, swimming, and fishing.

3. The Werribee Gorge State Park

The Werribee Gorge State Park is very popular with bushwalkers and rock climbers! (The Gorge really has spectacular views and beautiful and historical geological features)

Werribee Gorge State Park is about 8 kilometers west of Bacchus Marsh and is accessible by two routes. The first is via Westen Freeway and the Pentland Hills Road to Myers Road (this provides acces to the Gorge itself) and the second is via Ironbark Road which is approached from the Bacchus Marsh-Anaki.

At first, I though Bacchus Marsh is a place with overflowing wines (Bacchus, god of wine and all that). But I was dead wrong. *laughing* Well, I wasn’t disappointed (even though my childhood beliefs were totally crushed) when I arrived in Bacchus Marsh because I really had great time. Ah yes. Even at this age, I still like the character of the god of wine.

-Grandpa Ben