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FIRE DISTRICT. 

Erica, Rawson and Walhalla are in the West and South Gippsland fire district. Melbourne is in the Central fire district and may have different restrictions or warnings, so use the information sources below to check for LOCAL updates.

FIRES do happen in the bush, but most often they are a safe distance away, so still come and enjoy our mountains and rivers. 

But if there seems to be new smoke in the air, call 1800 240 667 (Bushfire Information Line) to report it and be ready to move to a safer place. Not sure? Use the information sources below to check if the area you wish to visit might be effected. 

IF YOU ARE CAMPING, you MUST double-drown your camp fire with WATER before you leave.  Covering with soil does NOT prevent re-ignition. There are very serious penalties, including imprisonment,  for leaving a fire unattended or not properly extinguished. 

TOTAL FIRE BAN DAYS:

For information about Total Fire Ban days and warnings which may effect this area click here: Fire Ban Days

LISTEN TO:

ABC Gippsland radio on 100.7 FM or 828 AM for Gippsland updates. Remember, your favourite Melbourne radio station is in a different Fire District and may not be broadcasting the LOCAL information you need. 

CALL: 

000 to report a fire that you can see that may not already have been reported

1800 240 667 (Bushfire Information Line) for information about

  • smoke you can see and to check whether that fire has already been reported
  • which days are Total Fire Ban days
  • what restrictions apply to campfires, BBQs, welding and use of machinery etc.

CONNECT TO:

Our local fire heroes are the crews from:

FIRE DISTRICT.

Baw Baw Shire (including Erica, Rawson, Walhalla) and Latrobe City (including Moe, Morwell, Traralgon) are in the West and South Gippsland fire district.

TOTAL FIRE BAN DAYS

Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days when fires are likely to spread rapidly and be difficult to control. The penalties for lighting fires illegally during the Fire Danger Period and on Total Fire Ban Days include large fines and possible imprisonment.

Note: on Total Fire Ban Days all camp fires, including fires for cooking or warmth or personal comfort, and solid or liquid fuel BBQs or ovens, are banned. 

For more information about current restrictions click here: CFA warnings & restrictions information

To download the latest brochure, click here: CFA can I or can’t I brochure

CALL 000 only for real emergencies .  If calling from a mobile, you may be asked for your location before being connected to a call centre.  Our nearest large towns are Moe, Morwell and Traralgon, all about 35 km to the South of Erica and Rawson. The call-taker will connect you to the service(s) you need.

POLICE

For less urgent Police assistance, without the lights and sirens, call 131444.

 

HOSPITALS

West Gippsland Healthcare Group, 41 Landsborough St Warragul – 5623 0611

Latrobe Regional Hospital, 10 Village Ave, Traralgon West – 5173 8000

Rawson Community Health Centre, 1 Lehmann Ct, Rawson  (8:30 am – 5:00 pm. Tue, Wed, Fri only) – 5165 3236 

If it’s less urgent:

 

HEALTH

Ambulance – 1800 875 137 (Call 000 if urgent)

Doctors (Moe After Hours Medical Service), 42 Fowler St, Moe – 1800 242 696

Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800

Lifeline  – 131 114

Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636

Nurse on call – 1300 606 024

Poisons Hotline – 131 126

 

SAFETY AND SERVICES

Police (Rawson) – 5165 3444

Police,  less urgent (without Lights and Sirens) – 131444.

Crimestoppers – 1800 333 000

VicEmergency – 1800 226 226

Baw Baw Shire – 5624 2411

Power Lines  (SP Ausnet) – 131 799

SES  – 132 500

Bushfire Information Line – 1800 240 667

Burn-off Notification – 1800 668 511

VicRoads – 131 170

Gippsland Water – 1800 057 057

COOPERS CREEK
Assaggio del Forno Café,
40 Coopers Creek Rd (off Tyers-Rawson Rd)
Coopers Creek, Vic 3825.
03 5165 3359
https://www.facebook.com/assaggiodf

  • Assaggio del Forno turning
  • Assaggio del Forno

Wood fired pizza and Italian cuisine. Great coffee.
Seasonal. Open most long weekends and for group bookings.

ERICA
1914 Café and Bar,
2 Henty St, Erica 3825.
03 5165 3359 facebook

Fully Licenced. Take-aways available. Booking advisable. Closed Mon and Tues.
1914 Serves an All Day Menu until 5pm and then a Dinner Menu. Devonshire Tea served all day.
Thursday Night is Schnitzel Night, $18.00 pp.
The Dining Room has an extensive and interesting collection of local historic information around the walls. And the small motorsport lounge near the back door is a great spot for a quiet beer. 1914 is the home of ‘Bikes R Back’ Good Friday Appeal.

ERICA
Erica General Store, Bakery and Post Office
School Rd (main road), Erica 3825.
03 5165 3209

Post Office, Bakery and general store. Fast food, eat-in or take-away. All-day breakfast and most of your favourite snacks are on the menu. Bread and award winning pies etc are baked on the premises.

ERICA
Erica Hotel Motor Inn,
8 School Rd (main road), Erica 3825.
03 5165 3252 facebook

Fully Licenced. Take-aways available. Motel Units attached.
Dining room closed for lunch Mon and Tues.
Home of the Hot Rock meal.
The large dining room contains a great collection of chainsaws and timber industry pubobilia in its Bushman’s Museum – including a chainsaw made of wood and many other interesting curiosities.

RAWSON
Rawson Mini-mart, Bottle Shop and Post Office,
1 Murie St, Rawson 3825
03 5165 3311

Fast food, eat-in or take-away. Post Office, groceries, frozen food and camping needs. Bottle shop with Beer, Spirits and Wines.

RAWSON
Rawson Stockyard Bar and Bistro
Depot Road, Rawson 3825
Phone 03 5165 3111 https://rawsonstockyard.com.au/
Fully Licensed.
Open Friday Dinner to Sunday Lunch. Eat-in, or
call for take-away and delivery information.
Large Outback-Themed venue located in the Rawson Caravan Park – enjoy a meal and walk back to your cabin or campsite. Seats 180, ideal for functions.

WALHALLA
Kitty’s Cafe
120 Main Rd, (in the Corner Store building)
Walhalla 3825.
03 5165 6220

Little Café, personal service, great for a quiet coffee and snack break. Vegetarian and Vegan options. Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch.

WALHALLA
The Greyhorse Cafe
100a Main Rd, (Opposite Band Rotunda), Walhalla 3825.
03 5165 6293
https://www.facebook.com/thegreyhorsecafe/

Quick bites and to-die-for coffee or tea. Dine inside, or out on the garden deck. Gluten free options. Ample parking makes the Greyhorse Café the perfect place to start or end your wander around Walhalla.

WALHALLA
Walhalla General Store and Miners Cafe
Main Rd, Walhalla 3825.
03 5165 6227

Indoor and outdoor dining. Licensed. Open most Wednesdays and weekends.

WALHALLA
Walhalla Lodge Hotel (The Wally Pub)
Main Rd, Walhalla 3825.
03 5165 6226
https://www.facebook.com/walhalla.lodge.hotel

Award winners. Big country meals, vegetarian friendly. Enjoy log fire comfort in winter, or dine outdoors and let the birds sing to you in summer. Walhalla’s last public bar. Closed Mondays, except long weekends. No accommodation.

WALHALLA
Walhalla’s Olde Lolly Shoppe
120 Main Rd, Walhalla 3825.
0413 589 252
e: jennyanddion@speedweb.com.au

Open Wed, Sat, Sun and school or public holidays. Also for school groups by appointment. Huge range of confectionery, soft drinks, ice cream, coffee, hot chocolate and mementos. Pop in for a chat and meet the friendly birds!

  • The General Stores in Erica and Rawson offer a range of baked, canned and frozen foods, as well as take-away snacks. Each also stocks a limited range of camping necessities, household essentials, maps and other needs. The Erica General Store bakes bread on Sunday and has award winning pies available most days.
  • LPG Swap and Go cylinders are available at the General Stores in Erica and Rawson. For home delivery of large cylinders contact Erica Caravan Park on 0400 999 236.
  • Alcohol is available from the Rawson Mini-mart and the hotels in Erica, Rawson and Walhalla.
  • Supermarkets – Moe, Morwell and Traralgon all have Aldi, Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.
  • Chain, Toboggan and Ski hire
  • Chains, clothing, skis, snow boards, snow shoes, toboggans etc are all available from Erica Ski Hire, 5 School Rd, Erica 3825. Call 03 5165 3353 to book, or visit ericaskihire.com.au/#bookings
  • Note: during the ‘Declared Snow Season’, wheel chains MUST be carried when driving to Mt Baw Baw and Mt St Gwinnear. Penalties apply. If fitting chains becomes necessary, signs and/or Authorized Officers will indicate when and where this can be safely achieved.

A page for information about places to stay. Meantime….

Walhalla:

+Walhalla’s Star Hotel 0436 462 462
For other Walhalla options: www.walhallaaccommodation.com.au.

Erica:

+ Erica Caravan Park 03 5165 3315
+ Erica Hotel Motor Inn 03 5165 3252


Rawson:
+ Mountain Rivers Tourist Park 03 5165 3231
+ Rawson Caravan Park 03 5165 3439

Dump Point and potable water.

RV Dump Point, 1a Pinnacle Drive, Rawson 3825,
next Rawson Police Station.
Lat: -37.956130, Lon: 146.397130

Camping and Caravan Parks

Chinese Gardens Camping, Main Rd, Walhalla 3825.
03 5165 6250

Erica Caravan Park, Station St, Erica 3825
03 5165 3315
Campsites, RV, Cabins.

Mountain Rivers Tourist Park, 11 Depot Rd, Rawson 3825
03 5165 3231
Campsites, RV, Cabins.

Rawson Caravan Park, Depot Rd, Rawson 3825
03 5165 3439
Campsites, RV, Cabins.

Free Camping Areas – limited or no facilities

North Gardens camping area, Main Rd, Walhalla 3825
Coopers Creek Recreation Reserve, Coopers Creek Track,
Aberfeldy River Camping Area
Bruntons Bridge
Thomson Bridge, near Thomson Station
Senninis Track
For more options click here > Findacamp

A space for information about services, trades and local facilities…..

Walks

Erica

Erica – Mill Park. Old saw-mill site. Easiest entry off Henty St. Birds, native and exotic vegetation, some hilly pathways, picnic shelter.

Rawson

Rawson – Crater Lake. Level gravel track, birds, native vegetation, picnic shelter and toilet. Parking beside picnic shelter BBQ south of school. Or access via pathway behind Community Health Centre.

Walhalla

Walhalla is a walkers paradise. Flat and easy on sealed roads in the valley bottom. Great views for the fitter folk from the higher tracks. Buildings that have been there forever and some that pretend. Places to take a break and enjoy a cuppa or coffee, but some only open Wednesdays and weekends. Toilets and BBQs.

Drives and Rides


Mt Erica and Mt St Gwinnear car parks. Unsealed roads, but suitable for 2wd vehicles. Chains must be carried during Declared Snow Season, but can be hired from Erica Ski Hire. Walking tracks, very different destinations when you get to the end of the road.

Thomson Dam. Sealed road. Take a break at the nearby Silvertop recreation area which has shelters, BBQs and toilets..

Blue Rock Dam. Sealed Road, picnic facilities

Moondarra State Park. Sealed Road. Picnic, lake views.

Walhalla. Sealed Road, picnic areas, BBQs, history preserved, coffee, museum, mine, Lolly Shoppe, lots to see! Catch the train from Thomson and enjoy your walk into the town.

Walhalla Goldfields Railway. Runs Wednesday, weekends and holidays. Enjoy one of the worlds great rail experiences as the train winds its way along the sides of Stringers Creek.

Tyers Gorge. Short bush drive and a very short walk leads to spectacular elevated views. See the river far below.

Tyers Lookout. On Rawson-Tyers Rd just before descent to Tyers. Spectacular views of Latrobe Valley and Power Stations, especially at night when everything lights up.