CLOSE to a 1000 volunteer hours clocked up by Stanley community members set the pace for the village's walking project with its brochure launched on Australia Day when close to 100 people rolled up for the special event.

The launch of the 'Stanley Walking Project' held in grounds close to the old Stanley Primary School with a variety of informative sign boards including one depicting the informative brochure with trails in place.

A Stanley Landcare initiative with the community, project manager and Stanley Landcare member Tony McDonald said more than 60 people had participated in the project.

Twenty kilometres of tracks had been regenerated around the Stanley Plateau with explanatory signage about birds, ecology, mining, the plateau fire story and people and place five key information themes along with the brochure.

Activities that contributed to the project's implementation stretched from community consultation, planning, development and clinching funding to manage interpretive signage placed around tracks as well as brochure development.

Not quite complete, but almost there, the project has taken five–years with two of those interrupted by COVID impacts.

Mr McDonald acknowledged contributions of Stanley's Bryan Mackenzie and his team at Enzie Stairs in Melbourne with their combined professionalism, enthusiasm, ingenuity, generosity and persistence.

"Bryan also drew on his engineering skills to produce moulds for the retro park benches; we have 13 of them with 10 more to be manufactured," Mr McDonald said.

"Andrew Swift has been our "expert" in assisting the development of the track layout and signage while Richard Loyn, Wendy Taylor and photographer Michael Bink who contributed to the bird interpretation."

Stanley's Genevieve Milham had been a major driver of the 'Walking Stanley' brochure with the document applauded by walkers.

Mr McDonald also acknowledged past Landcare chair Ian Gray's enthusiasm and diligence where he had seen the project's potential with his support of many voluntary hours.

Among other support had been Quercus Beechworth with its auspice of the project, Indigo Shire Council, DELWP, HVP Plantation, CFA, Regional Landcare and the RecReserve Committee, while funding has been received from Into Our Hands Foundation as well as a Bushfire Recovery Grant.

Guest speaker Federal member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines, who unveiled the brochure replica with Indigo Shire mayor Bernard Gaffney, said the project is emblematic of the endurance of the Stanley community.

"It speaks of the importance of the history and landscape to the people of Stanley," she said.

Dr Haines said it also reflected the wider community's love of the history and landscape.

"It also speaks of extraordinary volunteer spirit where Stanley has taken on such a big project.

"So many people have been involved and grants have been received as well to bring the project together.

"Local manufacturers have been incredible with the level of expertise needed too.

"People come to the North East is to be part of nature and this is another opportunity for people to experience Stanley forests and landscapes.

"It also takes in our food production where people have the opportunity to stop by the farm gate to buy cherries, berries, apples and chestnuts."

The community as well as visitors enjoyed a tasty feast prepared by Mount Buffalo Chalet chef Peter Rushford which followed the launch.

Mr McDonald said signage to acknowledge all contributors is on the agenda.