Welcome to this lovely hidden oasis that is Mt Cole Reservoir (sometimes referred to as Ararat Reservoir).
The dam wall was built in 1883, and further enlarged in 1903, 1926, and more recently in 1990.
The catchment is from two main creeks on the mount - Spring Creek and Baranga Creek. Its full capacity is around 800 ML.
Managed by GWMWater, this crystal clear mountain water flows from the Reservoir via a pipeline to Ararat, where it joins other water inflows to be treated for town usage.
While this is not a formal camping ground, you may encounter people camping or fishing here.
Access note: Low clearance / 2WD access is usually okay to within about 250m from the cache via either Reservoir Rd or Sapling Ridge Rd. However when driving on any of the tracks on Mt Cole, you will need to assess the condition of the track, the weather and your vehicle’s capabilities.