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REGION: Goldfields

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Victoria's Goldfields. Situated in Central Victoria, just over 100km NW of Melbourne, the Goldfields region is filled with opportunities for those wanting to experience the heady days of the gold-rush era.

In 1851, news of the discovery of gold spread like wildfire around the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales, and reached as far as China, England and the USA. A population explosion occurred by October of that year, 8000 prospectors descended on the area; the number swelled to 30 000 a year later; and by 1856 a record number 100 000 people were at the goldfields. Tiny settlements became boom towns virtually overnight. Melbourne was almost deserted during 1851, after 20 000 of its 25 000 population left for the Mount Alexander diggings.

As prosperity spread to the trades, services and agricultural industries that supported the gold miners and developing mining companies, towns became thriving regional centres, bearing all the hallmarks of wealth.

The rich history of the Goldfields and Victorian architecture is evident everywhere and visitors can explore the area through activities such as prospecting, fossicking, camping and bush-walking.

The Gold-rushes: The wealth from the gold diggings made Melbourne the largest city in Australia at that time. The status of the whole country was transformed. Australia changed from a colonial settlement with a dubious reputation to a respectable place for migration and investment.

Victoria's Goldfields region is popular for holiday makers due to its proximity from Melbourne. The Goldfields has a good selection of accommodation, hotels, tours and attractions for your holiday. Tourist information can be found at visitor information centres in the major tourist towns and this page on planbooktravel is a useful resource for articles, reviews, stories, photos and blogs for The Goldfields or Victoria.

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Tourist info

National Park Head Office

  • Ph: 13 19 63
 

Parks/Reserves

latest stories

Gold!

Image - Tourism Victoria VisitVic | 2009-01-14 | Maldon’s Historic Reserve is an excellent way to see how the gold miners made their fortunes in Victoria’s Goldfields during the gold rush. | read more

Camping Greater Bendigo NP

Image - Tourism Victoria VisitVic | 2009-01-14 | The Greater Bendigo NP spans over 17,000 hectres and supports vital habitats as well as many activities from walking to scenic drives. Camping in the park is available to special groups. | read more

Heathcote Surprises

Hutkangaroos.jpg heathcote | 2008-12-18 | Every 1st weekend in October, the folks of Heathcote, Victoria and beyond look forward to the local annual Heathcote Food and Wine Festival. It's no wonder more people are heading to Heathcote, the Red Heart of Victoria | read more

Just the way nature intended, continued part 3.

ronjaj | 2008-04-08 | Jajarawong offers more than just restful holidays in our cottages and camp ground. | read more

 

latest business reviews

No business reviews added as yet.

Most popular photos

Main Attractions

Ararat

  • Ararat was officially founded in 1857, when a group of 700 Chinese discovered alluvial gold in the area.

Ballarat

  • This is the site of Sovereign Hill and the Eureka Stockade centre.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

  • Meet emus, koalas, wallabies, wombats and other Australian animals at Ballarat Wildlife Park.

Bendigo

  • Built on its goldrush prosperity, Bendigo is still a thriving and influential city.

Buda Historic Home and Gardens

  • Visit this colonial home and see the best of 19th- and 20th-century landscaping.

Castlemaine

  • Castlemaine is noted as much for its artistic endeavours as for its goldrush past. Castlemaine Art Gallery boasts a fine collection of Australian art.

Clunes

  • This was Victoria's first gold town.

Golden Dragon Museum

  • This Bendigo museum is a tribute to the Chinese gold miners.

Maldon

  • Established in 1853, this uniquely preserved gold town lies 16km NW of Castlemaine, on the slopes of Mount Tarrengower. Maldon is 136km NW of Melbourne, and is a popular destination for daytrips.

editors picks

Heathcote Surprises

Hutkangaroos.jpg heathcote | 2008-12-18 | Every 1st weekend in October, the folks of Heathcote, Victoria and beyond look forward to the local annual Heathcote Food and Wine Festival. It's no wonder more people are heading to Heathcote, the Red Heart of Victoria | read more

Just the way nature intended

Mindi Lagoon ronjaj | 2008-03-30 | It's interesting how people get started in naturism. Ron and I both got interested in different ways. Ron says he started way back when he was a late teen and used to swim naked in the family swimming pool late at night. I became interested when I shifted to the Northern Territory from Victoria. Darwin has a free beach and I always enjoyed a visit there, lying in the sun and enjoying a swim in the tropical warm water. I met Ron some 28 years ago in Melbourne and one of our first outings was to a nudist resort at Tocumwal on the Murray River, this place no longer exists as a nudist resort, I loved it and we returned a number of times. This is the beginning of our lifestyle journey in naturism together. | read more

Gold!

Image - Tourism Victoria VisitVic | 2009-01-14 | Maldon’s Historic Reserve is an excellent way to see how the gold miners made their fortunes in Victoria’s Goldfields during the gold rush. | read more

Castlemaine

Reunion Photo Board Emma | 2008-03-09 | A weekend trip to Castlemaine | read more

Just the way nature intended - continued

ronjaj | 2008-04-01 | Our naturist journey at Jajarawong has taken us to many personal places. | read more

A Swiss -Italian historic house at Yandoit

Heritage building ronjaj | 2008-04-01 | Discover the unique Swiss- Italian heritage of Yandoit | read more

Yandoit Hills Winery

Tasting Yandoit Hill Wines. ronjaj | 2008-04-07 | Discover the unique Yandoit Hills wines while you join us for our tour of the Historic houses of Yandoit as part of the Jajarawong Swiss-Italian fringe Festa over the Anzac weekend 2008. | read more

Just the way nature intended, continued part 3.

ronjaj | 2008-04-08 | Jajarawong offers more than just restful holidays in our cottages and camp ground. | read more

Camping Greater Bendigo NP

Image - Tourism Victoria VisitVic | 2009-01-14 | The Greater Bendigo NP spans over 17,000 hectres and supports vital habitats as well as many activities from walking to scenic drives. Camping in the park is available to special groups. | read more

 

 
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