Victoria > West Inland
Gordon
| Type | Inland Hill |
| Conditions | S, SE (best), ESE (fair), SSW(difficult) |
| Height | 400'/ 120m agl, 2200'/670m amsl |
| Rating | PG2 / HG Supervised |
Near the township of Gordon on the Western Freeway 25km east of Ballarat. From the Gordon Pub head west to pass on the north side of the hill. The site is entered from the western side (the back) through a gate just south of the troop of Cyprus trees and the small house. Navigate. The track passes through another gate, then around the north face and into the crater. Please try and minimize damage to the access track, which can be slippery & difficult to traverse if wet. BE SURE TO LEAVE ALL GATES AS YOU FOUND THEM. Park here behind launch.
000 Emergency Markers (?)
- GOR100: South launch
- GOR200: Landing - South paddock
Landowners
This site is privately owned. Be respectful & collect any rubbish left behind. Do not bring dogs. It is very easy to lose sites on private land, so please be considerate.
Contact/Responsible
WVHGCDescription
Mt Black (Gordon) is a rounded, grassy volcanic hill with an easy open take off and landing. Farm track provides access to the crater and to the SE launch. If traction is poor, walk the last 150ft on the south side. HG top landings are no longer safe due to trees. PG top landings are possible on the SE and S sides, however patches of blackberry, bracken fern & hawthorn can be problematic.
Takeoff
It is generally unnecessary to ask prior permission to fly, however please use common sense. From time to time the access paddock is ploughed for crops and therefore may not be used. Also, several of the landing paddocks may be unusable due to crops. Keep away from sheep especially when lambing.
Landing
Three landing areas are available as indicated on the map:
West paddock - large open paddock with no fences or power lines.
South paddock - just to east of dam. Beware of the diagonal power line that runs across paddock to east of dam.
East paddock - to east of launch. Beware of power line that runs along the fence line that runs east on south side of paddock.
The three paddocks directly below the SE takeoff. Avoid these paddocks if they are in use for cropping or have livestock in them. 
Flight
Both SE & S faces provide similarly good soaring prospects in moderate winds. Most Southerlies are unstable and produce good lift ,along with sink and turbulence. South Easterly sea breezes often provide smooth ridge soaring in the late afternoon with adequate, if a little disappointing height gains. XC flights are possible here, although more challenging to attain being a relativly low hill.
Hazards / Comments
The surrounding countryside is green and rolling and very picturesque if you get high. Unfortunately this will put you into the flight path of light aircraft flying between Melbourne and Ballarat, keep a good lookout at all times as light aircraft have passed over this hill at less that 200'. Particular care is needed between the hill and the freeway. VHF calls are recommended CTAF 127.75. Be aware of the power line which runs from the road directly to the group of trees below the trig point on the SE side. Here
Map information
