Lal Lal - Bungal Historic Area

The Lal Lal Blast Furnace is one of the most beautiful archaeological remains to be seen in Australia. The blast furnace is the only one from the nineteenth century remaining in the Southern Hemisphere and it represents the only attempt to smelt iron ore in Victoria. It has an 'A' classification from the National Trust.

The Lal Lal Bungal Historic Area is a 75 acre forested reserve of predominately Peppermint and Messmate trees.

Located within the State Forest, the historical area offers an insight into the fascinating history of the region.

The centre piece of the historic area is the iron mine and blast furnace. According to Heritage Victoria, the only attempt at mining and smelting iron ore in Victoria took place at Lal Lal in the latter stages of the nineteenth century.

In the mid-1870s, the Lal Lal Iron Company installed mining machinery, erected a large blast furnace and constructed a tramway to convey ore from the mine. For a brief time in the early 1880s, the Lal Lal Iron Company had over 100 men engaged in mining and smelting the iron ore, gathering limestone (flux) and firewood, and manufacturing charcoal. The company also operated a foundry at Ballarat. The Lal Lal Iron Works had ceased operations by the end of the 1880s.

Interpretive signage and a wooden viewing platform have been installed to allow visitors to best view the iron mine and blast furnace. The site also offers a picnic area complete with toilets, BBQs, fire pits and camping.

Lal Lal Bungal Circuit

Lal Lal Bungal Circuit is a 23.2km, grade 3 hike located in the Lal Lal Bungal Historic Area. The Circuit hike explores the many tracks of the Lal Lal Bungal Historic Area. Most of these tracks were created by the Lal Lal Iron Company.

Commencing at the Blast Furnace picnic area near Ironmine road this circuit takes you north west into the Lal Lal State Forest with views over the Lal Lal Reservoir. After leaving the reservoir you can then explore the lower reaches of the state forest including the summits of Mount Doran (545m) and Champion Hill (520m) before returning to the picnic area.