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On the Charlotte Spur Track

Omeo Coach Road "Found & Revisited"

Submitted by: Gus (Gary) Davis
29 May 2009
Location: Vic High Country (East Gippsland) (1) Comments
Back in 91' my cousin Al & his wife Joy joined my wife Sue & our 3 children Sarah Jess & Paul on a 4WDrive track known as the "Omeo Coach Road" it was in Ron & Viv Moons book "Bush Tracks of Victoria, (1st edition). It was a great track & I've been meaning to do it again for years, Al & I decided the time had come & started planning our weekend this turned into many hours of research as we couldn't find any reference to "The Omeo Coach Road" locals from Swifts Creek hadn't herd of it Maps of the area had no reference to it...Email to Ron Moon & we had our answer he was kind enough to supply his original track notes.. we discovered The Omeo Coach Road was a name given to the trip in Ron & Vivs Book.. Track found we set of for Swifts Creek to retrace our tracks.. We set up Camp on the Tambo River my young nephew Mitchell set the fire while Al & I set up the 3 swags dropped a couple of rods in and kicked back.
Up early and started our 4WDrive trip.

The Charlotte Spur Track IS the track we did back in 91'

Anyway at present officially the track is closed??BUT after talking to Darby at the Swifts Creek General Store, (great bloke), said it's been closed for sometime, "but", said we should be able to get through after some maintenance. So we went up for a look to see and found that after going over some, (3 or 4), mounds of dirt across track, now these mounds we believe really were put there to deter soft roaders & low clearance 4WDs as the track becomes very rocky,(large rocks), & washed out, steep.... This Road/Track really should be maintained as it's of great historic value...

(Please do the right thing as we did. I spoke to Parks Victoria & told them what & why we're doing this trip.. From now we intend to discuss with other parties regarding much needed maintenance. So if you intend doing please ring 1st as you may find the Charlotte Spur track closed).

As we found out that the Track we new as the Omeo Coach Road was the "Charlotte Spur Track", ( aprox 50klms if returning to Swifts Creek via Brookville along Baldhead Road), we also realized that it basically continued into the "Haunted Stream Track", (aprox 86 klms from Swifts Creek to Omeo Highway. SP Wattle Circle TL for Ensay 10klms & Swifts Creek 27klms or TR for Bruthen 43klms), so we decided to join the 2! 

We left camp at Swifts Creek at 8.30am and returning at 4pm so it was a full day....

We joined the 2 treks via Christmas Ridge Track, Baldhill Track, Dawson City Track which intersects with the Haunted Stream Track at Dawson City...

The Map we used was "Rooftop's" Bairnsdale - Dargo - Omeo Adventure Map.
This will give you all imfo needed to do Charlotte Spur Track, ("Omeo Coach Road"), & The Haunted Stream Track, (The Haunted Stream Trek notes : 4WD Tracks of the High Country by Craig Lewis & Cathy Savage).

Back in 91' I did this track in a Gen 1 LWB Pajero 2.6 on gas I have video & Pics of the track which was in far better condition then..
Wish I could share them but having trouble trying to load...

Gus.    

1 comments on this story

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David Howardwrote on 21 Nov 2009, at 09:08 AM

Always enjoy reading your travels Gaz. And of course a fantastic area. Dave

Gus (Gary) Davis

Mitsubishi Pajero Love this great country of ours & can't think of any better way to see it than in a 4WDrive! Hope you get the chance to enjoy it like i do.... Cheers, Gus.

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