A photograph of a "rest house" at Glen Nayook Reserve prior to the 1926 bushfires.
Glen Nayook Reserve has been a popular spot for visitors since 1914. The nine-hectare site was set aside as public reserve in 1907 and developed with a band rotunda or rest shelter as well as other facilities.
In 1926, all was destroyed in the disastrous bushfires of that year. It then remained "dormant" for 40 years until two Buln Buln Shire councillors took an interest in the site.
Crs Bill Bloye and Bill Moyes visited the reserve to assess what needed to be done to restore the site and reported back to council. They convinced their fellow councillors of the merit of preserving and resurrecting the reserve.
As a result, Glen Nayook was redeveloped by Buln Buln Shire. Thanks to the foresight and vision of these councillors, the community and visitors to the area have been able to enjoy this beautiful place for more than 50 years.
Today it is described on many websites as a "delightful fern glen and remnant Mountain Ash rainforest". The 1.5km track follows the Tarago River to a fern gully where the river runs underground for 100 metres.
Photograph and information courtesy of Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between The Committee for Drouin, Drouin History Group and 3BBR FM to preserve local stories.
This story of Glen Nayook Reserve is one of the many told by Keith Pretty in his "Buln Buln Shire" history story. To listen or find out more, visit storiesofdrouin.com.au