Tronoh Dredge Hole, Harrietville

Swimming Hole Heaven in Victoria

The Tronoh Dredge Hole was created in the mid 20th century when a section of the Ovens River East Branch was cut off from the main river course to dredge it for gold. The hole has filled up with water to create a small lake. It was enhanced as a swimming destination by local volunteers, who have since added a quirkily named jetty and a floating swimming pontoon. Above: Joop's Jetty at Tronoh Dredge Hole with the swimming pontoon in the distance (Order this image)

The lake is nestled in amongst a mix of tall native and European trees, with walking tracks around the edge of the lake and through the surrounding forest. However it has been plagued by algal blooms in recent years, primarily due to the lack of throughflow. On my last visit there was a noisy pump working away in the far corner of the lake, trying to push through some fresh water. Despite the best efforts of the pump, there were still several large mats of algae floating on the leeward side of the lake.

I hope that the efforts to eliminate the algae are successful, and that this swimming hole can be restored to its former glory. There is a second lake to the north of the jetty that is connected to the main dredge hole, but this smaller lake was quite stagnant and is not suitable for swimming. Above: Tronoh Dredge Hole and the surrounding mountains (Order this image)

As a dredge hole, the banks of the lake are quite steep, and the water depth increases quickly away from the shore. Therefore, this swimming spot is best suited to experienced swimmers who can tread water without needing to stand up. Even if you decide not to get into the water, this picturesque spot is worth a visit for a walk through the surrounding forest trails or for a picnic with a view of the lake. For anyone with an interest in geomorphology, the nearby Ovens River East Branch is eerily straight, presumably because the river bends were taken out by the dredging activities.

This swimming hole did not make it into my top 50 in Victoria because of its recent history of algal blooms. There is a lesser known swimming hole in the nearby Ovens River East Branch that did make it into my top 50. If you want to know where it is, grab a copy of the guide to Freshwater Swimming Holes in Victoria. Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this swimming hole, the toxins in algal blooms have been linked to neurological disorders, so don't swim in the water if algal blooms are present. The managing authority warns that there is deep water and submerged objects. The marker indicates the approximate location of the car park at the Tronoh Dredge Hole. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
View Larger Map Here is a little bit of local history about the dredge hole from someone who has worked and swum there, and a suggestion for cliff jumpers (subject to your own risk):

"I worked on the dredge approx. for 2 years. I had my 21st birthday when I worked on the dredge. I can remember when boating over steel plates they ended up on the bottom of the dredge hole. They brought in a diver to try and retrieve the steel plates, but they never found them. Yes I have had a swim in the dredge hole." - Albert M. from Wangaratta, Australia 26/2/2022. When I asked Albert about how much gold he had seen being recovered from the dredge hole, he replied that "the area where the gold was collected was locked up very securely".

"If you want a thrill as well, on the opposite side of the lake from where the jetty is, there are people who do the jump. It is about a 10 m jump. We used to go every year as a family and it was great fun!" - Tarik A. from Melbourne, Australia 2/5/2022.

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