Gloucester Environment Group walkers conquer Alum Mountain

AFTER tackling Peppers Mountain at Stroud Road earlier this year, Gloucester Environment Group bushwalkers took on the challenge, for their last walk of 2025, to scale another local peak – Bulahdelah mountain, also known as Alum Mountain.

The mountain, which was once the site of an alum mine, is now State Forest.

The “Australian Alum Company” commenced extraction on Alum Mountain in 1878 and in 1890 works were established at Bulahdelah for the production of alum and aluminium sulphate.

A small group of walkers took up the challenge to scale the mountain, taking the well-formed and well-signposted walking tracks that wind through beautiful eucalypt forests.

“On the tracks the walkers identified a large range of birds including the Eastern Whip Bird, Whistler, Lewins honeyeater, Channel-billed cuckoo, White Browed Scrub Wren, Grey Shrike-Thrush and Grey Fantail,” walk coordinator Rod Eckels.

“The walk took us past many of the old mine workings and through to the Worimi Cultural Area, evidenced by carved trees that signify the spiritual significance of the mountain.

“Although there are some steeper sections of the walk, there were also long evenly graded sections that follow along the former ‘trolley track’ that was used in the mine.

“We visited both the Mountain Lookout, which has extensive views over Bulahdelah township, as well as the lookout at the end of the Ted Baker Track, which had views of the Myall River towards the coast.”

After their morning hike, walkers enjoyed lunch at Bombah Point, watching the punt ferry cars across the Myall Lakes on the way to Hawks Nest.

The Gloucester Environment Group undertakes a range of activities including River Care, Koala Ways, bird watching, bushwalking and quarterly feasts.

To participate in any (or all) of these activities please contact us at gloucester.environment.group@gmail.com or Facebook.