Yarra Junction
Small town which was once a major railway junction
Yarra Junction, the business centre of the Upper Yarra, is a town of some 1300 people located on the Warburton Highway, 66 km east of Melbourne between Lilydale and Warburton.
The town's name reflects the fact that it was a rail junction where the 36-inch gauge of the Powelltown timber tramway met the standard gauge of the Victorian Railway. Timber has long been associated with the Yarra Valley and it is said that more wood has passed through Yarra Junction than any other town in the world, other than Seattle in the USA.
The Upper Yarra Community Market is held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at the Recreation Reserve from 8.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. The annual Orchid Festival is held each year in October at Seville Hall, in Seville, 12 km east of Lilydale.
Things to see:
Museum
The town's railway station was originally the Lilydale Station (1886), being moved to Yarra Junction in 1914. The Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society brochure records : "When the railway line to Warburton was opened in 1901 a small shed-like station was provided at Yarra Junction. In 1914, when an island platform was required at Lilydale, a new station was erected there. It was intended to move the old Lilydale station to Yarra Glen but this Victorian Railway's plan was disrupted when the original Yarra Glen station was accidentally burned down in 1914. It became a matter of urgency to provide another station at Yarra Glen but, as the new Lilydale station was not yet completed, the old station could not be transferred. As a result, a completely new building was constructed at Yarra Glen.
When the new Lilydale station was finally completed later in 1914, the Victorian railways cast their eyes around for another suitable place to locate the old building. Yarra Junction was chosen as traffic through that station was increasing dramatically with the opening of the Powelltown tramway."
It is now a museum with displays relating to the early years of sawmilling and is open Sundays and public holidays from 1.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. It is located on the highway and group tours are available by appointment, tel: (03) 5967 2167.
Yarra Burn Vineyard and Restaurant
Yarra Burn Vineyard and Restaurant, established in 1975, produces pinot noir, sauvignon blanc/semillon, cabernet sauvignon, a sparkling wine and chardonnay. Head east along the Warburton Highway for about 3 km then turn left into Settlement Rd and it is at no.60. The cellar door is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. The charming restaurant, built of convict-hewn bluestone slabs, is open from midday to 3.00 p.m. from Friday to Monday and on Saturday nights or to groups at other times. The Yarra Burn homestead is also available as bed-and-breakfast accommodation, tel: (03) 5967 1428.
Brittania Falls Winery
Brittania Creek Rd heads off the Warburton Highway almost opposite Settlement Rd. At no.75 is Brittania Falls Winery which is open weekends and public holidays from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5967 2139.
McWilliams Lilydale Vineyards
If you head west of Yarra Junction for about 14 km to Seville East. On the southern side of the highway is Davross Court. At no.10 is McWilliams Lilydale Vineyards, overlooking the Warburton Ranges. The cellar door is open from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily. The restaurant is open for lunch every day, tel: (03) 5964 2016.
Tarrango Farm Tearoom and Gallery
The Tarrango Farm Tearoom and Gallery has local arts and crafts on display from 10.30 a.m. daily (except Wednesday). It is on Tarrango Rd which heads south off the highway 3 km east of Yarra Junction, tel: (03) 5967 2123.
Miner's Cottage Art Gallery
The Miner's Cottage Art Gallery has a range of artworks situated in a restored miner's cottage (c.1878). It is located on the highway 5 km east of Yarra Junction and is open Friday to Sunday from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: (03) 5967 2535.
Yarra Valley Archery Park
The Yarra Valley Archery Park is located on Don Road which heads north off the Warburton Highway 3 km west of Yarra Junction. There are indoor and outdoor ranges and barbecue facilities. It is open weekends and holidays from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5967 3323.
Haining Farm
This 65-ha dairy farm, with its Jersey and Friesian cows and other farm animals, is located amidst green hills at the confluence of the Yarra and Don Rivers, 4 km north-west of Yarra Junction. A walking track leads alongside the Don River through a grove of manna gums. The farm was donated to the state government by Melbourne businessman Sir John Reid. It is open to schools and other organised groups interested in farm life and work but only by guided tour and by prior arrangement, tel: (03) 5964 7088.
Yarra Valley Preserves
4 km west of Yarra Junction along the Warburton Highway is the Launching Place. At 1 Cairncroft Ave is Yarra Valley Preserves which supplies a gourmet range of hand-made preserves and gift hampers. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: (03) 5961 5508.
The Big Berry
Launching Place Rd heads south off the Warburton Highway from a point 4 km west of Yarra Junction. 10 km along this road, at the intersection with Thoneman Rd, is The Big Berry where you can pick your own raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in season or buy jams and frozen berries throughout the year. Be sure to ring first, tel: (03) 5967 4413.
Yellingbo State Fauna Reserve
Woori Yallock is 9 km west along the Warburton Highway. 6 km south of Woori Yallock, along the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd, is the Yellingbo State Fauna Reserve which is the only known habitat of the helmeted honeyeater.
The Gourmet Yabby Farm
A few kilometres south of Yellingbo, Smiths Rd heads east off the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd. It leads into Beenak Rd where you will find The Gourmet Yabby Farm. You can catch or buy your own and use the barbecue facilities, tel: (03) 5964 8265 or (014) 024 240.
Yellingbo Berries
Gardiner Rd heads north of Beenak Rd. It is home to Yellingbo Berries where you can obtain quality blueberries, organic fruit and jams. They are open in January and February from Saturday to Wednesday by appointment, tel: (03) 5964 8212.
Bunyip State Park
Covering 16 550 ha this large forested area has a diversity of fauna and flora and a number of relics associated with the logging industry, including timber tramways and sawdust heaps. The first people here were the Balluk-Willam clan of the Woiworung tribe. The first Europeans were goldminers in the 1850s. There are camping areas and lookouts. Picnics, bushwalking, horseriding and mountain-bike riding can all be pursued. From Yarra Junction the main access road is the Gembrook Rd which heads south from the Warburton Highway 4 km west of Yarra Junction.
18 km from the Warburton Highway (8 km from Gembrook) there is a right turn to the Kurth Kiln Picnic and Camping Ground (where there is an historic charcoal kiln used in World War II) and a left turn towards Dyers Picnic Ground (about 6 km away) where you can go on the Dyers Circuit Walk (11.5 km) or the 17-km walk to Four Brothers Rocks which offer views across the park.
The Mortimer Picnic Ground, 6 km south-east of Gembrook, was the site of the first known timber mill in the park (1898). There is an easy 1.2-km self-guided nature walk associated with the site and a 9.5-km circuit walk. 5 km east of Mortimer, just off the Tonimouk Rd, is the Camp Rd Picnic Ground.
In the eastern section of the park are the Forest Boronia Area, Gentle Annie Picnic Ground and the 750-m Lawson Falls Nature Walk (there are track notes at the start of the walk). Alternatively you can go on the 5-km Lawson Falls Circuit.
Ring 131 963 or (03) 5968 1280 for details, camping locations and maps.
The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail
Yarra Junction is situated along the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail which allows you to walk or ride your bicycle or horse for 38 km along a clearly marked course following the route of the old railway line which was built in 1901 to relay local fruit, vegetables and timber to the Melbourne line (it closed in 1964).
The track can be subdivided into several sections which can be walked singly or collectively. The Yarra Junction to Wesburn section (3.4 km) is a particularly attractive trek which can be picked up at the museum. It crosses the Little Yarra and offers fine views over the Central Highlands and Yarra Ranges National Park.
The Wesburn to Millgrove portion (1.7 km) is followed by the final section from Wesburn to Warburton (3.3 km). It passes by the foot of Mt Little Jo, Tommy Finn's Trout Farm (see entry on Warburton), the gateway to Yarra Ranges National Park and Warburton Station. From the latter you can follow the highway, cross the river and pursue the cycling track to East Warburton.
If you wish to head west from Yarra Junction, the trail can again be picked up at the museum. It cuts back and forth across the Warburton Highway and ends at The Launching Place Hotel (parking is available between the hotel and the general store). This section is 2.2 km.
The Launching Place to Woori Yallock section (6.4 km) finishes at the Woori Yallock station which is in Syme Rd (close to the Warburton Highway). There are parking and picnic facilities.
The next portion, from Woori Yallock to Killara (4 km), terminates at Killara station in Sunnyside Road. There is a carpark and a picnic area with horse facilities.
The Killara to Seville section (3.2 km) is followed by the Seville to Wandin section (3.4 km) which concludes at the Wandin station, near the Warburton Highway. There is a carpark and picnic area adjacent.
The Wandin to Mt Evelyn walk (5.4 km), passes through some damp fern gullies and remnant bushland. It ends at the former Mt Evelyn station (now restored and used as a library) where there is an adjacent picnic area.
The final section (5 km) is from Mt Evelyn to Lilydale. It passes through an area rich in fauna (such as kangaroos and birds) and springtime wildflowers and terminates at the corner of the Maroondah Highway and Queens Road.
For a map ring the Yarra Ranges Shire (tel: 1300 368 333). If you require more details ring (03) 5964 4842. Bicycle Victoria can be contacted on (03) 9328 3000.
Tours
Yarra Valley Winery Tours offer personalised tours for travellers, social, business and conference groups which include lunch, wine tastings at Yarra Valley wineries, a pick-up and return service and an on-board tour host, tel: (03) 5962 3870. The area's natural attractions are explored by Eco Adventure Tours, tel: (03) 5962 5115. Ballooning over the valley is conducted by Go Wild Ballooning (tel: 03 9890 0339) and Balloon Aloft, tel: 1800 028 568.
Vintage Fun offers chauffeur-driven rides in vintage cars. They pick up from anywhere for any occasion, tel: (03) 9754 7670.
Horseriding
Triandibo Trail Rides offer rides through some fine scenery and fern gully rainforests. They are located a few kilometres south of town, tel: (03) 5967 1570 or (0418) 567 180.
Hotels
Cunningham's Hotel & Restaurant
Main Rd
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1080
Yarra Junction Hotel
Warburton Hwy
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1080
Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
Duck In Bed & Breakfast
200 Settlement Rd
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1119
Tarrango Farm Bed & Breakfast
5 Old Tarrango Rd
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 2123
Rating: ***1/2
Yarra Burn Winery Restaurant, B & B
200 Settlement Rd
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1428
Farm & Eco Holidays
Langbrook Farm Cottage
Stephensons Lane
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1320, 0413 305 562
Facsimile: (03) 5967 1182
Rating: *****
Caravan Parks
Doon Caravan Park
Doon Rd
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1674
Facsimile: (03) 5967 1674
Rating: **1/2
Restaurants
Cunningham's Hotel & Restaurant
Main Rd
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1080
Riverview Chinese Restaurant
19 Yarra Junction Village Shopping Centre
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 2133
Yarra Burn Winery & Restaurant
Settlement Rd
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 1428
Cafés
Cafe Arcade
Warburton Hwy
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 2221
Coffee Lovers
2445 Warburton Hwy
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 2777
Riberry Cafe & Restaurant
2473 Warburton Hwy
Yarra Junction VIC 3797
Telephone: (03) 5967 2095
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