Mount Buffalo is a mountain

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. ...

of the

Australian Alps The Australian Alps are a mountain range in southeast Australia. The range comprises an Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia, interim Australian bioregion,

and is within the Mount Buffalo National Park in Victoria,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. It is located approximately northeast of

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

. It is noted for its dramatic scenery. The summit of the highest peak of the plateau, known as The Horn, has an elevation of AHD. Mount Buffalo is managed by

Parks Victoria Parks Victoria is a government agency of the state of Victoria, Australia. Parks Victoria was established in December 1996 as a statutory authority, reporting to the Victorian Minister for Environment. The ''Parks Victoria Act 2018'' updates ...

History

Before British colonisation, Mount Buffalo was occupied by the Mogullumbidj. The Mogullumbidj were a Dhuduroa-speaking people known as "Druids" to early colonists and recorders. The term '' Minjambuta'' is likely a synonym for the Mogullumbidj that was popularised by its use by Norman Tindale in his mapping of Australian tribes, and the term is still found in signage throughout the park. The Mogullumbidj were closely associated with the Mt Buffalo plateau, and hosted other groups who visited to feast on

bogong moth The bogong moth (''Agrotis infusa'') is a temperate species of Nocturnal, night-flying moth, notable for its biannual long-distance seasonal Lepidoptera migration, migrations towards and from the Australian Alps, similar to the diurnal monarch ...

s (''Agrotis infusa''). The Aboriginal name for the mountain was ''Tubbalunganer''. Despite having no relationship to the Kulin groups of central and southern Victoria, Mt Buffalo and the surrounding terrain was included in a Traditional Owner Settlement Act agreement with the Taungurung

traditional owner Native title is the set of rights, recognised by Australian law, held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups or individuals to land that derive from their maintenance of their traditional laws and customs. These Aboriginal title right ...

group by the Victorian government in October 2018. This decision was subsequently challenged and found wanting by the

Federal Court of Australia The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law (with the exception of family law matters), along with some summary (less serious) and indictable (mo ...

Hamilton Hume Hamilton Hume (19 June 1797 – 19 April 1873) was an early explorer of the present-day Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria (Australia), Victoria. In 1824, along with William Hovell, Hume participated in an expedition that first t ...

and William Hovell were the first Europeans to visit the area and they named the mountain during their 1824 expedition, noting the mountain's resemblance to a giant, sleeping buffalo. In 1836, the explorer and

Surveyor General of New South Wales The Surveyor General of New South Wales is the primary government authority responsible for land and mining surveying in New South Wales. The original duties for the Surveyor General was to measure and determine land grants for settlers in New Sou ...

, Thomas Mitchell visited the area and named the mountain Mount Aberdeen, unaware it had already been named Mount Buffalo.

Recreation

There are extensive walking tracks across the Plateau that is studded with large

granite Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phanerite, phaneritic) intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly coo ...

tors. The Mount Buffalo Gorge has sheer granite cliffs that provide good views down to the Ovens Valley. The cliffs are popular for rock climbing. There is a launch ramp for hang gliders at the cliffs. There are waterfalls on the edge of escarpment. The Mount Buffalo Chalet provided accommodation on the mountain but is not currently operating. During winter Mount Buffalo offers snow play and cross-country skiing. Lake Catani on the plateau is used for canoeing, fishing and swimming.Mount Buffalo National Park
, Great Alpine Valleys

Climate

Climate data are sourced from Mount Buffalo Chalet, situated at an altitude of . An extreme winter rainfall peak is noted, with a large quantity falling as heavy

snow Snow consists of individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water througho ...

References

Ski areas and resorts in Victoria (state) Climbing areas of Australia Forests of Victoria (state) Victorian Alps Mountains of Hume (region) {{VictoriaAU-geo-stub

History

Recreation

Climate

See also

References