What a place to stay and more importantly explore and enjoy!! Whroo, once a mining town is now considered a ghost town. If you are looking to explore the largest Iron Bark forest in the world then this is the place to come. Who wouldn’t you want to stay here? What’s more it’s a free camping ground!!
The Greens Campground Whroo is within the Rushworth State Forest.
There are a few partitioned areas designated for the keen camper at heart. It’s a great set up where the designated areas are not on top of each other so you can take in the atmosphere of the area. Some of the camping spots are larger than others. If you are wanting to head off with friends or family there’s a spot for you to camp together, just remember to head off early if its long weekend to secure a spot.
To stay in the Iron Bark forest is fun. It’s hard to believe that thousands of people arrived here and the surrounding areas in 1853 in search of gold. Wherever you walk in the area you’ll see the evidence of the gold mining era dating back to 1853 when the first gold nugget was found in the grass at Whroo!!
Kangaroos frequent the area, however they keep their distance unlike the kangaroos at the Grampians, Halls Gap Camping Ground. We love seeing the kangaroos in nature. Such a sight to see in the Rushworth State Forest which is approximately 33,000ha.
Facilities at Greens Campground
- Long drop toilets
- Fires allowed in fire pits only, provided there’s no fire restrictions in place
- Bring your own water for drinking, cooking and distinguishing fires
- Suitable for tents, camper vans or caravans
- Remember to take your rubbish home
- Dump spot is not available
About Whroo
Are you interested in gold mining? If you are then Whroo and the nearby town of Rushworth are worth exploring. The area holds so much history. When you visit Whroo historic area you are likely to still see people trying their luck at finding a gold nugget or two. If you are not into the historical side or gold mining but love nature its a beautiful place to spend a night or longer.
Whroo and the surrounding areas is where thousands of people came in search of gold. It’s here that millions of pounds worth of gold was mined!!! Imagine the excitement when 2 sailors discovered a gold nugget in the grass!!
As you explore this fascinating area you will find history on the area, which we find really good. To us it shows pride and great that the history is shared with all that come to visit.
If you’re adventurous and love nature walks then there are plenty of places to strut your stuff.
Balaclava Mine
Balaclava Mine is a very easy 850m walk from the Greens Campground.
Today the open-cut Balaclava Mine is a place for tourists to come and gaze down from the lookout points and reflect on the life of the miners back in 1853.
The entrance to the mines has been closed to the public due to safety hazards. You’ll find information at the main lookout point on the history of the mine. Here it explains how the mine shaft was filled in by the Mines Department in 1960.
Through the life of the mine it was required to close several times due to the shortage of water, then due to heavy rainfalls. Sadly there were only 150 employed miners left by 1881. Hence the town now being known as an Australian ghost town.
After the gold mining era the main local industry was the iron bark wood cutting from the surrounding forests.
Balaclava Mine Location
Reedy Lake Rd, Whroo VIC 3612
How Long Should You Stay Here?
Depending on your reason for staying at Greens Campground I suggest a minimum of 1-2 nights. It is a great place to be grounded by nature if you are looking for a place to truly relax in the serenity that this Iron Bark Forest provides.
Nearby Attractions
Feedback/Comments
Do you have any camping experiences that you can share with us? Perhaps you can suggest somewhere for us to explore. We’d love to hear all about them.
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