Hanging Rock, Victoria

Typical rock formation at Hanging Rock

Hanging Rock is the popular name for Mount Diogenes in Victoria, Australia. The rock formation is located about 70 km north of Melbourne and is a few kilometers from Mount Macedon away. The formation belongs to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range.

Hanging Rock served as the setting for the novel Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay and the film of the same name by Peter Weir.

Geology and origin

Hanging Rock was created by 6.25 million years ago intraplate volcanism. It Magma has emerged from crevices and has been deposited at the surface. It emerged, inter alia, volcanic domes, which were brought by erosion in the present form. Hanging Rock consists of an extremely sodium-rich trachyte, which was found in this chemical composition for the first time in Scandinavia and is unique to Australia. The rock formation is situated on a vast area of volcanic rocks. Nearby Mount Macedon has arisen in the same way.

History

Hanging Rock is located on the territory of the Wurundjeri tribe, but has no known spiritual significance for these Aboriginal tribe. But before further measures to develop the reserve can be made, a report by archaeologists must be obtained. These have already been proved by the discovery of a skeleton in Keilor, that the first humans who lived 36,000 years ago in the area.

1836 was Major Thomas Mitchell of rock formation named Mount Diogenes, during his expedition across Victoria. At the time it was popular to use Greek names. Hanging Rock is originally the name of a prominent rock at the entrance of a tourist trail: a round rock that hangs in a crevice and a passage leaves.

The rock formation was shelter for prospectors and bush rangers as the legendary Mad Dan Morgan, a well-known for his brutality thief and murderer in the early 19th century. After him also some striking bodies have been appointed as Morgan 's Lookout and Morgan 's Blood Waterfall.

Until 1866, the rock was privately owned. The government bought the area and put it with the adjacent marine reserve to Hanging Rock Reserve together. At this time Hanging Rock had already become a popular destination for hiking and picnicking. There was a hotel and a racecourse. 1880 the first horse race took place in 1885 and the Hanging Rock Race Club was founded. To date, there are regular races take place on New Year's Day and Australia Day.

Picnic at Hanging Rock

The novel and the film Picnic at Hanging describe the traceless disappearance of three girls and their teacher during a school trip on Valentine's Day in 1900. Only one of the girls reappears, but doing so can give no indication of the other missing persons. The others remain gone forever. It will be found neither bodies nor a sign of life.

The novel and the film have increased the awareness of Hanging Rock and led to an increase in visitor numbers.

Hanging Rock Reserve

The reserve can be reached from Melbourne by train via Woodend and offers many opportunities for sports activities such as tennis and fishing a remarkable flora and fauna.

Through the reserve is a natural corridor between Hanging Rock, Mount Macedon and the Cobaw remains Range. Native animals such as wallabies can be in the area protected by high grass move. In addition, the reserve is an important refuge for migratory birds. The rest of the level outside the reserve is mainly used for wine production.

The forest cover at the base of Hanging Rock is characterized by various types of eucalyptus trees in which koalas often can be observed. The vegetation on the rock formation itself is limited to a few bushes and stunted trees. However, hiding among the rocks, the brown snake and the red-bellied black otter, two dangerous Australian venomous snakes.

The park is open daily in the summer guided night walks are offered.