16th December 2024 onwards to May 2025
Chronology: 16th December 2024 A lightning band started multiple fires across Grampians including at Yarram Gap. Forest Fire Management planes started patrolling immediately. Despite large numbers of aircraft, water bombers and ground crew operations the fire spread along the Mt William range, Mt Rosea and Sundial area over the next two weeks. This fire extended south towards Walker Swamp and west into the Wannon River valley and east towards Pomonal and Moyston.
Halls Gap and surrounding towns were evacuated several times. Christmas was a very unsettling time for many.
This Yarram Gap fire burnt 76000 hectares of National Park and farmland and had a perimeter of 427km. Including farmland and homes around Pomonal and Moyston.
From 3/1/2025 Wildlife welfare crews conducted assessments with vets to care for injured wildlife and food drops were being conducted throughout the Grampians National Park. Plus impact assessment teams started assessing properties affected by bushfires. Over 600 properties would be visited to assess damage from the fires and suppression efforts, including burnt and damaged fences and control lines constructed.
Pomonal had burnt recently in February 2024 and once again the town had to be evacuated. Several homes were again lost and many fences and out buildings.
6th January this fire was contained, but blacking out operations continued and the fire was monitored to ensure that it did not break out again.
8th January Halls Gap reopened
10th January the northern unburnt area of the National Park opened. Many roads were still closed including the Halls Gap-Dunkeld Road. Overnight hiking was closed.
15th January work began on the Grampians Peak Trailhead in Halls Gap with several trees removed and part of the car park closed.
19th January a fire started at Boroka lookout; this was started by an illegal campfire on the rocks near the lookout. This began in the evening and fire crews worked overnight to contain the fire and the next morning helicopters were able to assist. This fire was under control on 21st January. It had burnt out about 7 hectares on the side of the hill below Boroka lookout. This area was pink for many days. Boroko track walk reopened on 18th April.
20th to 24th January: Pest control aerial shooting operations began to control pest animals and support the recovery of the park and its native species. These operations have continued targeting foxes, cats, deer and goat.
24th January A busy week on the ground for the GGNP Parks Victoria and FFM Vic teams, with a whole number of fire recovery activities going on. Some of these include Grampians Ark Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby Emergency Feeding Operation (with volunteer involvement from the local community), Aerial Pest Animal Control Operations across the fire ground, Fire Recovery works and Impact Assessments, ongoing stakeholder updates, placement of signage (walking tracks/road closures) and extensive closure structures being placed at key access points around the fire ground.
25th January Parks Victoria held a Halls Gap Fire safety day to assist residents and visitors with fire safety.
27th January lightning strikes again ignited multiple fires in the Grampians. Two fires in the north at Wallabies Rocks and Taylors Track and a fire at Bullawin Road in the southern Victoria valley. These fires also spread rapidly and Wartook and Mirranatwa were evacuated.
On Tuesday 28th of January 2025, the State Control Centre declared Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park closed after a series of bushfires started following lightning strikes in the central and Victoria Range areas of the park. This was to ensure visitor/community safety and to support the firefighting effort. These fires are not yet under control.
On Wednesday 29th of January 2025 the full closure was amended. It now entails partial re-openings of visitor sites and walking tracks in parts of the park that are safe and unaffected by the current bushfire situation. All vehicle based and Hike-in campgrounds in the park are currently closed.
6th February the Wallabies Rocks fire was not yet under control and was 59,000 ha in size with a perimeter of nearly 300km. This fire threatened Wartook, Glenisla and other townships to the west. The Henty highway was partly closed between Horsham and Cavendish.
8th February this fire was contained due to favourable weather conditions and firefighting efforts. The Bullawin fire had travelled north and merged with the Wallabies Rocks fire and had burnt the whole of the Victoria range including Mt Thackeray, Chimney Pots and Fortress area.
13th February 2025 has been declared a day of Total Fire Ban in the South West District. This district covers the southern area of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
14th February many unburnt areas of the park reopened.
16th February the Wallabies Rocks – Bullawin Road fire was under control.
Campgrounds and walking tracks started to open again in the unburnt parts of the park.
20th February – Grampians Tourist Road between Halls Gap and Dunkeld opened.
26th February DEECA started a Rapid Response Assessment Team who worked over the week and weekend to compile a report for the State Government to respond to the Wallabies Rocks fires.
Areas of the Park continue to open as cleared by Forest Fire Management. Most of the Grampians Peak Trail is still closed.
There have been 100 days of Emergency Management in the Grampians.
Over 135,000 hectares of national park and farmland was burnt. Many FOGG members were impacted upon.
From 17th March 2025, Wildtracks are commencing works on the Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) Track between the end of Tandara Rd and the Terraces Fireline). Wildtracks will take approximately 2 weeks with this section of the track temporarily closed or detoured around on the Terraces Fireline in accordance with the progress of works. Boronia Peak remains accessible from the northern end of the Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) Track.
28th March The Tandara Steps Project on the popular Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) Track between the end of Tandara Rd and the Terraces Fireline is completed and open.
16th April Easter Update. The impact of the 2024/2025 summer fires in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park was widespread. It resulted in the closure of many popular visitor sites including campgrounds, picnic areas, a large network of roads and walking tracks (including sections of the Grampians Peaks Trail). Parks Victoria is now progressing with large scale fire recovery works across the park. To complement these, a staged re-opening of visitor sites is being implemented. Staff have worked diligently to ensure the first phase of reopening’s are ready for the Easter long weekend.
The sites to be reopened on Good Friday (18th April) are:
Silverband Falls Walk and Silverband Road, Balconies walk, Sundial carpark and the walk to the Pinnacle and Lakeview lookout walk (Sundial Peak remains closed), Boroka Track Walk, Jimmy Creek and Wannon Crossing Campgrounds, Kalymna Campground and Kalymna Walk, Griffin Trailhead to Cassidy Gap Rd (Grampians Peaks Trail) – Walkers can now access this area by either pick up or drop off at Grampians Tourist Rd. The Griffin Fireline Track remains closed to vehicles but open to walkers accessing the Grampians Peaks Trail via the Griffin Trailhead.
6th May – 8th May An aerial pest Animal Control Program in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park was conducted to respond to the ecological impacts of the recent Grampians bushfires. To target pest animals and to support the recovery of the park and its native species. Operations will occur within fire ground areas currently closed to the public. No additional closures of visitor sites or campgrounds will occur.
12th May Track repair works will take place on the Pinnacle Walk (halfway along in the Bridal Veil Falls area) from Monday 12th of May to Friday 23rd May 2025. The walk will remain open however visitors may experience delays. The Forest Loop Walk turn off near the works area offers an alternative route to access the Pinnacle Lookout.
12th May The Coppermine 4WD Track section from the Coppermine 4WD Campground to Mt Zero Rd will be closed for roadworks from Monday 12th May to Friday 16th May 2025.