Genoa Rest Area - Victoria

We have stayed at Genoa rest area numerous times on our travels, but we have only ever stayed one night. It is one of the better donation camps and we have no problem leaving a donation. The rest area was once part of a cattle farm, 'Maramingo Station', owned by Peter Imlay and established around 1838. No one knows where the name Genoa came from, but it is assumed it came from a near by property named Genoa, and the river. The first peoples of the area were known as the Jinoor (meaning water path), so perhaps the name Genoa is an Anglicization of Jin-oor. The area is large and has toilets (sadly the cold showers have been disabled), a covered bbq with tables and chairs, a clothes line, tennis courts (currently being renovated) and kids playground closer to the walkway bridge (now fenced off due the loss of the bridge to the 2019/20 bush fires).

Genoa is the first Victorian town along the Princess Highway. There was also an information board about footprints to be found in the Genoa river from the Devonian times, some 390 million years ago, of large crocodile like reptiles.

The 2019/2020 bush fires devastated many areas down here. Noticeable was the old farm building just north of the rest area. All that is left are the brick chimneys.

The old walkway bridge use to be the main highway and also was destroyed by the bush fires. Last time we were here I walked on the bridge and it didn't feel very safe with big gaps between the timber planks. The bridge was a timber truss and concrete bridge, built in 1926-8 that replaced two earlier bridges. The bridge was opened in 1928, and decommissioned in 1989 due to heavier and faster vehicles causing stress to the structure. The town residents lobbied to keep the old bridge and in 1995 the bridge achieved state significance and was restored.

Sadly the bridge was burnt in the 2019/2020 bush fires.

Photo: Gippsland News.

The town again lobbied to have the bridge re-build and building started in May 1921, but seems to have stopped.

Genoa is the first town one comes to heading south from NSW along the Princes Highway. Not a lot remains in the town today. Most businesses are closed and it is very quiet.

There is a heritage walk from the camp grounds but no bridge to walk on now, so we drove to Genoa Falls and came back via the town. There are very good history information boards in the main street.

The walk is about 2 &1/2 kms from the bridge to the old school site. Little is left of the town of Genoa now, a hotel that seems to open sometimes, a cafe that looked closed, and some old dilapidated shops. The old hotel was originally two story and got its license in 1913. It was destroyed by fire in 1933.

BRIEF HISTORY:

Prior to European Settlement the area was the home of the Jinoor Tinnong people.

1830's - cattle properties were established in the area.

1897 - first liquor license in Genoa at the Maramingo Hotel.

1891 - The first school opened.

1888 April 9 - Genoa Post Office opened.

1913 - Genoa Hotel got its liquor license.

1916 - a parallel truss bridge was constructed across the river.

1919 - a flood destroyed the bridge.

1923 - General Store built by Harry Bridle, it was also a bank and became the post office.

1928 - a new bridge was constructed.

1933 - Genoa Hotel destroyed by fire and rebuild.

1960's - General store demolished and rebuilt.

1972 - fossil trackways of primitive tetrapods were found in the Genoa Gorge, dating back 350 million years.

2001 - General Store closed

2019 - bush fires damages much of the area, including the bridge.

Genoa Falls, in the Croajinolong National Park, is about 5.5kms from the Genoa Campground along the main highway. It is easy to miss the turning as the sign is tiny. The Genoa River has many waterfalls and gorges, and the Genoa Falls are perhaps the easiest to get to.

The falls flow over and around huge granite boulders, and are worth visiting. There is a mostly dirt track down from the car park, with a few set of steps - 62 in total (I counted😁)

There were patches of pink granite along the trail and much flora to see. There are no seats, but the granite rocks would allow one to have a picnic at the falls.