Pound Bend Tunnel, Mining tunnel in Warrandyte, Australia

Pound Bend Tunnel is a 145-metre diversion tunnel cut through rock at a narrow bend of the Yarra River in Warrandyte, about 24 km north-east of Melbourne. It is six metres wide and four metres deep, and carries the river through the neck of the bend in Pound Bend, part of Warrandyte State Park.

The tunnel was built in 1870 when the Evelyn Tunnel Mining Company redirected the river to expose the riverbed for gold mining. This ambitious engineering feat was part of the early gold-seeking boom in Victoria.

The name Pound Bend comes from a stock pound once kept on the river bend. The tunnel is also called the Evelyn Tunnel after the Evelyn Tunnel Mining Company. The site is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and is remembered locally for fatal accidents, including a death in November 2004.

Access the tunnel site through Pound Bend Reserve where pathways and viewing areas are available for exploration. Be aware of changing water conditions at the river, especially after rainy weather.

Strong water flow through the tunnel collects fallen branches and naturally demonstrates the power of moving water. This effect is especially visible after storms when more debris has accumulated.