Halls Gap is beautifully sited in the heart of the Grampians adjacent to Lake Bellfield and surrounded by the Wonderland and Mt William ranges. Nestled into the picturesque Fyans Valley the village offers a spectacular panorama of 360 degree views. History Cattle rustlers were the first to make use of this valley, but were soon removed and the whole valley was taken over by station owners, including new arrivals from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Britain. The discovery of gold in 1887 brought many fossickers, but there was more success on Mt. William where the Mafeking Goldfields thrived for several years from 1900. It was around this time that guest houses were built to house the many tourists, botanists and naturalists who were discovering the natural beauty of the area. The Grampians Halls Gap is the focal point of the massive sandstone ranges of the Grampians, which provide some of Victoria's most spectacular scenery. Rising to heights of over 1000 metres, they form the western edge of the Great Dividing Range. Aboriginal peoples have had a long and rich association with the area as evidenced by the fascinating rock art sites that can be found in the west and northern Grampians. More recently, in 1936, the explorer Major Thomas Mitchell climbed and named the highest peak Mt William and named The Grampians, inspired by the mountains and crags of his native Scotland. The ranges became a National Park on 1 July,1984. The park is plentiful in wildlife, including kangaroos, echidnas, possums and koalas, while over 100 species of birds have been identified. It is also popular for bushwalking and rock climbing and offers superb scenic driving. Apart from it's majestic grandeur the park is renowned for it's beauty and variety of wildflowers which are at their most brilliant from August to November. MacKenzie Falls are the largest waterfalls in Victoria and are reached with a short walk from the kiosk on Mt Victory Rd. Things to do and see The Brambuk Living Cultural Centre, just two kilometres from Halls Gap, brings to life the rich history and culture of the Koorie communities of the Wimmera and South West Victoria, through exhibitions, tours and live performances. The centre is named after Brambuk, the white cockatoo. Adjoining the town is the Wonderland Range, which is one of the most popular sections of the Grampians National Park, containing interesting rock formations, canyons and viewpoints. A network of roads around the town lead to other scenic drives and a wealth of walking trails. Lakes Bellfield, Lonsdale, Fyans, Wartook and Moora Moora are well within a short drive from town. Visitors to the park should orientate themselves with a visit to the National Parks Visitor Centre. Other Points of Interest Stony Creek Stores- Grampians Rd. Halls Gap Zoo and Wildlife Park, Pomonal Rd, has kangaroos, deer and wallabies free ranging in native habitat, as well as monkeys, ostriches and many other animals in individual enclosures. The Gap Winery- Pomonal Rd. Boroka Vineyards. Events Jazz Festival- February. Rotary Art Exhibition- Easter. Grampians Gourmet Weekend- May. Spring Art Show and Wildflower Exhibition- October. Film Festival- November. How to Get There Halls Gap is 262kms north-west of Melbourne Melways ref: 520 D11 Pop: 300 Visitor Information Stawell and Grampians Information and Booking Centre 50 - 52 Western Highway, Stawell, Vic, 3380 Ph: (03) 5358 2314 or (03) 5358 2823 Fax: (03) 5358 4366 Freecall: 1800 246 880 or Grampians Rd Tel: (03) 5356 4247 Click Here to View Map Back to Top   Looking down the valley towards Lake Bellfield and Mt William which stands at 1168mt. Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre.