Mt Dandenong
Mount Dandenong is a village located a few kilometres north of Olinda on the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
Edward Henty Cottage: an antique gallery which is situated in a prefabricated home dating from the 1850s. It was once the home of Edward Henty who became one of the first Europeans to settle in Victoria when he decamped at Portland in 1834. Ridge Road. Ph (03) 9751 1034.
Burkes Lookout: on Ridge Rd there is a signposted turnoff on the left into Eyre Rd which leads to Burkes Lookout, offering excellent views of Melbourne on a clear day.
Mt Dandenong Observatory: at 633 m above sea-level (the highest point in the Dandenongs) it offers outstanding views of Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay, the You Yangs and Mt Macedon. It is accessible from 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. daily. A kiosk operates in business hours and a $2 fee (per car) is collected for portions of the day. There are picnic facilities and toilets, Ph: 131 963. Location: Observatory Rd.
William Ricketts Sanctuary: features a series of kiln-fired clay sculptures executed by William Ricketts who bought this land in 1934. From 1949 to 1960 he made numerous trips to Central Australia to live with the Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte Aboriginal people whose culture and traditions inspired his sculpture. From 1970 to 1972 he lived in India where he felt a spiritual affinity with the Indian people. While there he spent some time at an ashram in Pondicherry. Ricketts continued to live and work on his four-acre plot until his death, at the age of 94 years, in 1993. Entry fees apply. Location: Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd.
