Blackwood Mineral Springs

Blackwood Mineral Springs are in a picturesque setting alongside the Lerderderg River. This is a delightful spot for picnics, play, and exploration. Visitors can indulge in sampling mineral water, stroll across the footbridge for creek views, or venture onto longer walking trails within the Lerderderg National Park, all while keeping an eye out for the resident kookaburras. 

The Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve is managed by a committee comprised of volunteers who dedicate their time and there is a camping ground adjacent to the mineral springs. Notably, the reserve boasts outstanding picnic and complimentary barbecue facilities, with several undercover areas tables, and seating. At the entrance to the mineral springs a small entrance fee is requested via a coin donation box, supporting the maintenance of the park's excellent amenities.

There are two mineral springs linked by a footbridge. The first footbridge was constructed in 1910, it was a picturesque wooden suspension bridge and remained in place until 1967 when it was replaced by the present steel and concrete footbridge.

The spring on the northern side of the Lerderderg River, ie you have go across the bridge to access it, known as Blackwood Spring, was the first to be developed in 1887 with a rotunda built over it in 1891. The second spring known as Soda Spring had a rotunda built over it in 1914.

An undeveloped spring, namely Magnesia Spring, is located several hundred metres upstream from Blackwood spring.

At the goldfields height of activity the Blackwood township had 13,000 diggers who turned the creeks and rivers upside down. Chinese miners came along and reworked ground others had left, they cleaned the Lerderderg River to bedrock and in doing so are credited with finding the mineral springs, in the 1850's.

In 1879 the Shire of Ballan requested a reservation be established around the springs, and gold mining was prohibited in the reserve from late 1888. In 1948, the Mineral Spring Reserve was enlarged to 5.67 ha and is currently 6 ha.

C. W. Langtree, Secretary of the Department of Mines and Water Supply, in 1889 stated:

. . . the neglected state of the spring is much to be regretted, no steps whatever having been taken by the shire council or by the local inhabitants to protect it from pollution or injury. Apollinaris water, to which Mr. Dunn compares the Blackwood Spring, is largely used in Melbourne. It cost 2s.6d. per bottle, and it is well known that a long sea voyage does not improve it. Yet here we have almost at our door a perennial spring, pronounced, on analysis, to be equal to Apollinaris, but which nobody utilises, and which stands in danger of being injured by the Chinese ‘fossickers’ who earn a scanty subsistence by re-working the bed of the river and its bank.

A comparison of the levels of minerals in the springs can be found here.