Moderate trail that may have short steep hills, rough surface, many steps or some rock hopping. Directional signage. Some bushwalking experience and moderate fitness required.
Built in the 1930's, the Contour Channel in Banyowla Regional Park was created to carry water from Canning Dam to the metro area. The trail is mostly flat following the contour of the hills, however there are two steep sections where the channel was siphoned in to pipes to convey the water to the other side of the valley. Located just 30 minutes drive south of the Perth CBD, the trail offers great views, an abundance of wildflowers during the months of August to November and an insight into some interesting local history.
About Contour Channel Walk, Banyowla Regional Park
The Contour Channel walk follows a series of man-made concrete channels and steel and cast-iron pipelines along the contours of the Darling Scarp through Roleystone and Kelmscott. The project was a Depression era public works scheme and constructed, mostly by manual labour, between July 1935 and December 1936 to carry potable water from just below Canning Dam through the hills to a pumping station on the hills above Gosnells by following the natural contours of the Canning Valley and scarp - hence it was entirely gravity-fed. The channel supplied drinking water to the metropolitan area of Perth from 1940 to 1975. The walk trail passes through forests of Marri and Flooded Gums and offers great views over Perth City and the Swan Coastal Plain. The area nearer to Canning Mills Road has a rich and diverse range of wildflowers from July to November. Kangaroos and Black cockatoos can often be seen throughout the woodlands here.
The trail can be accessed from Lloyd Hughes Park, Turner Road or from Canning Mills Road. Please note there is only a small amount of off-road parking available from Canning Mills Road.
Visit Armadale
Welcome to Whadjuk Noongar country, where the Perth Hills meet the Swan Coastal Plain. Hike amongst majestic Jarrah and Marri woodlands, rich with wildlife, wildflowers and history. Stroll along ancient gorges, follow cultural trails and take in sweeping valley views. Picnic beneath forest canopies and beside stunning bushland pools. Hikers and mountainbikers, challenge yourself along winding bush trails inviting you to explore and reconnect with nature. Come and discover for yourself these hidden gems just outside the city.
Moderate trail that may have short steep hills, rough surface, many steps or some rock hopping. Directional signage. Some bushwalking experience and moderate fitness required.
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1 trail goers have rated Contour Channel Walk, Banyowla Regional Park as 3 out of 5!
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Andrew Priest rated Contour Channel Walk, Banyowla Regional Park a 3 out of 5
Andrew Priest
Reviewed 27 May 2023, 5:14pm
It is an enjoyable walk with some history thrown in. It is not marked so it is important to download the KML file for use in your preferred bushwalking app. I use Locus Maps on Android and it did the track.
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MWhite
Contour Channel
A concrete section of the Canning Contour Channel.
MWhite
City view, Contour Channel Walk
MWhite
Pipeline
Pipeline used to siphon water from one section of the Channel to the next across the valley.
MWhite
Contour Channel
Part of the old Contour Channel
MWhite
Wildflowers in July
Ashley Drive High-Level Tank
I am not sure how historical this water tank is or if it is in fact still in use.
Rob Pollock
Contour Channel
Redundant pipeline
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Less than 1 hour
1.2km
