The Grampians have been four hundred million years in the making to give us the breathtaking beauty of the area. These ranges are truly magnificent with sheer slopes, dense forests, crystalline lakes, waterfalls, valleys, streams, rivers and forests combine to create this. The region teems with an abundance of flora and fauna and also has magnificent views from The Balconies and Reids Lookout. Also this region gives use constant reminders of Aboriginal culture shown in the paintings on the walls and rocks.
The first Europeans to visit the region was in 1836 when Thomas Mitchell, then Surveyor General of New South Wales, came upon the area. Gold was also discovered in the area in 1853 and by 1858 the population increased to 20,000. The Emmett brothers then discovered gold on the east side of Mount William in the area now known as Mafeking during the year of 1900. Now a days, long after the last of the gold rush fever subsided, many of the original gold prospecting sites still show evidence of the workings.
