Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/101

 and beautiful appearance; never before did the air seem so pure, clear, and inspiring, as in the delicious valley beneath those hills. The herbage, soft and green and luxuriant, formed an emerald sward. Flowers of all hues enamelled the hills and valleys, buttercups, dandelions, eglantine, daisies, and snowdrops, covered the ground. The trees, mimosa and honeysuckle, whilst here and there some giants of the Eucalyptus order grew in handsome clumps, some in full blossom, others without any, but not the less beautiful; while between them were green open spaces, on which the glorious sun poured down a golden flood of light."

The road to Ballaarat leads through the park, over the river Barwon. A curious pontoon bridge, in heavy swells of the river rather a dangerous affair to cross, has given place to a modern, handsome bridge, not yet finished. Before crossing the river is Barwon-terrace, the handsome house and gardens of Mr. P. Welsh, one of the original settlers in the colony, a gentleman well known for his urbanity and hospitality. Passing over a plain used as a common pasture land, and full of fine cattle, you ascend a rising ground, which commands an extensive and beautiful view of the city and its environs. Some few miles further, you pass some well-kept stations, and some finely cultivated land; thence the road leads you through an open forest country. Hitherto the whole face of it, in fact, the whole road through Ballaarat, was cut up in every direction with