Cathedral Range State Park

Cathedral Range State Park Victoria
IUCN category II (national park)
The ridge of the Cathedral Range looking south
Cathedral Range State Park
Nearest town or city	Buxton
Coordinates	37°22′49″S 145°44′09″E / 37.38028°S 145.73583°E / -37.38028; 145.73583Coordinates: 37°22′49″S 145°44′09″E / 37.38028°S 145.73583°E / -37.38028; 145.73583
Area	3,577 hectares (8,840 acres)
Managing authorities	Parks Victoria
Website	Cathedral Range State Park
See also	Protected areas of Victoria

The Cathedral Range State Park is located in Victoria, Australia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) north-east from Melbourne. It is situated between the towns Buxton and Taggerty and runs parallel to Maroondah Highway. The Cathedral Range was declared a State Park on 26 April 1979. It consists of 3,577 hectares and contains the rugged Razorback and spectacular peaks of the Cathedral Range, Little River and forested hills of the Blue Range. Due to its close proximity to Melbourne the Cathedral Ranges are a popular destination for both day and weekend adventures. Bushwalking, camping, rock climbing and abseiling are some of the more popular activities available. Cathedral Range State Park is listed as Category II under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and is an example of a park that can be used for recreation, education and conserving natural ecosystems.

European settlement of the Acheron area begun in 1839 when they selected land for the Acheron Run. The Taggerty Run was selected for 7 years after the Acheron Run in 1846. This area included the Cathedral Range area. The Taggerty Run consisted of difficult country and was described as being ‘completely in the ranges'. This difficult country of rocky soils and steep slopes discouraged the settlers from building there, so instead the land was grazed until the 1930s when wild dogs became destructive. Soon after grazing in the Cathedral Range area ended, logging and milling occurred in the 1930s to the 1970s in the Little River and Storm Creek catchments. In 1938 the Cathedral Mill, now known as Cooks Mill, was established near the junction of Little River and Storm Creek. The mill ceased operating in 1955, however logging continued until late 1971. Remnants of Cooks Mill remain at the Cathedral Range State Park and is protected as a historic site.

The traditional land owners of the Murrindindi Shire, including the Cathedral Range, is the Aboriginal people who are members of the Wurundjeri tribe and the Taungurong language speakers. An important area for members of the Taungurong people is located in the Acheron River valley, located to the west of the Cathedral Range State Park. Aboriginal Affairs Victoria have recorded two sites, one containing a scarred tree and the other an isolated artefact, in the Cathedral Range State Park.

The Cathedral Ranges consist of sandstone and shale that were laid down over 400 million years ago during the Upper Silurian period. These have since eroded into the spectacular peaks of the Cathedral Ranges. The range is approximately 7 km long and 1.5 km wide. The highest peak is Sugarloaf Peak which stands at 923m, located at the southern end of the range. At the opposite end of the range stands the second highest peak at 814m, known as the Cathedral North Peak. These peaks are separated by a narrow saddle, referred to as the Jawbone saddle. The eastern side of the State Park borders onto the Cerberean Caldera, formed by a volcanic eruption approximately 374 million years ago. Consequently, the geology of the area consists of sedimentary and volcanic formations originating in the Upper Devonian Period. The soils are mostly red clays that are resistant to erosion.