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Chinese Gardens Camping Ground - Walhalla

The historic Chinese Gardens, 2km north of Walhalla Post Office is available for overnight or extended camping and now provides additional facilities, some on a user pays basis. Your choice can be made when completing the application. Note campsites are not predetermined.

The Walhalla Board of Management sees the development of the Chinese Gardens Camping Ground and amentities as another step in providing a diverse tourist experience for the community in line with the many other experiences Walhalla has to offer.

CAMPING FACILITIES

A new amenities block consisting of 5 lockable bathroom units (1 disability suite) each with; shower, toilet and handbasin. Coin operated hot water ($1 coins)
A new public laundrette complete with coin operated washer and dryer ($4 gold coins).
Shelter with seating
2 electric BBQs and all weather picnic tables (free use).
Defined fireplaces
Waste disposal points

CODE RED FIRE ALERTS:

As Parks Victoria closes the Walhalla Historic Area on days of Code Red Fire Alerts, this facility is not available on these days.

BOOKINGS, RATES & CONDITIONS

To maintain a habitable standard and a safe environment usage fees will apply for camping and use of a bathroom unit if required, while the BBQ facility will be free and the Laundrette will be on a user pay basis.

A $20 per night fee (extended nights fee reduction apply) is payable in advance for camping within the Chinese Gardens boundaries and issued with a displayable permit sticker. For full details download the Camping Guide below.

Chinese Gardens Camping Ground Guide (includes printable permit application)
Chinese Gardens Camping Ground online Application

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Locality Map

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The Chinese Gardens

Like many colonial Australian goldfields, Walhalla had a thriving and industrious Chinese community, with small groups settled at the southern and northern fringes of the town as early as 1865. In the 1870s, the Chinese Gardens were established at the northern end of the town, consisting of two alluvium flats on the banks of Stringers Creek. A low spur runs between the two flats along which runs the old Walhalla Forest Road. The area was originally developed by the local Chinese community as a market garden, supplying important fresh produce to the town. The gardens rapidly declined after the last Walhalla mine closed in 1913 and by the 1950s, was overgrown with 3 metre high blackberries. The area was subsequently cleared by Tony Schirato (an Italian) who again established a market garden and built a wooden bridge across Stringers Creek. The venture ultimately failed and Tony Schirato left the area. The Chinese Gardens then had a number of owners who operated it as a hobby farm until it was purchased by the Victorian government in 1982. The original Schirato farmhouse was removed in 1986 and a steel shed was placed nearby by Parks Victoria. In 2004, the site was officially reserved as an “Area of Historic interest”, under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act, although the reserve borders are different from the original Crown allotments.

The Chinese Gardens are listed on the Heritage Victoria Inventory (H8122-0088) and were assessed as having high archaeological and scientific significance. The site is considered to have “potential to contain archaeological material relating to the late 19th century operation of market gardens”. The site is also on the Register of the National Estate and the National Trust of Victoria Register.

Recent Developments

Since the 1970's, there have been numerous proposals and various funding grants to develop the Chinese Gardens into a camping ground for use by the general public. In 2003, a grant was obtained to build an electricity distribution point and as a result the Baw Baw Shire agreed to seal the main Walhalla Road with bitumen to just past the entrance to the site, plus add a bus turning circle.

In 2013, after many years of waiting the Walhalla Board of Management Inc is pleased to open the Chinese Gardens Camping Ground, at the northern end of the Township.

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The Historic Chinese Gardens

Chinese Gardens Camping Ground

A view of Walhalla Township

New Amenities Facilities

Chinese Gardens Camping Ground - Locality Map

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