MaldonCastlemaine

Daylesford& Hepburn Springs

Daylesford & Surrounds

welcome to Daylesford & Hepburn Springs

You can begin your visit to the region by enjoying breakfast on the balcony of your accommodation, while relaxing with a cup of coffee and reading the local newspaper. Breakfast can be spent pondering your day of indulgence whilst staying in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.

Daylesford has an abundance of art galleries. Hours can be spent browsing through bookstores or if you prefer you can go fossicking for antiques and collectables. Daylesford is well renowned for its diverse culture and talented local artists.

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs have an array of cafes and restaurants to choose from, or maybe a picnic on the shores of the picturesque Lake Daylesford. You could spend all week going from place to place and still not discover all the cafes and restaurants.

The region offers plenty of local produce and regional wines to indulge in. When dining choose from a restaurant with a great log fire in the cooler months or on the sundeck with magnificent views on the beautiful warm days, dinner is bound to be a wonderful experience and a culinary delight.

If you feel like a new body, there are over 200 complimentary health specialists working approximately 51 disciplines. Enjoy every one of them. Take your time. There are spa baths, book shops with millions of publications, art galleries, artists, cafes, restaurants, and many fascinating shops but make sure you get out and find the hidden treasures.

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are renowned for being indulgence towns. A number of luxurious treatments are available with spa and massage (perhaps even a facial). If you like you can have a treatment at your cottage, or at one of the many spa houses scattered throughout the region. Ñ

Go on, give yourself a break! You deserve a holiday. Are you thinking about a little indulgence? We understand your needs after all the Hepburn Shire is the home of pure indulgence. ”

Daylesford & Surrounds

Across the year countless events are held that attract hundreds and often thousands of people to the area. In March each year we celebrate the ChillOut Festival with four days full of music, carnivals and stalls which bring a fantastic atmosphere to the area. By April/May we prepare for the annual Swiss Italian Festa, another weekend exploding with festivities, stalls and culture. Events involving food, wine, culture.... and the list goes on with every month of the year having different local events both big and small. Ñ

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Daylesford & Surrounds

The twin spa towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs reflect the character of their early heritage in the Victorian era when people travelled to “take the waters”. Today the towns retain the character of the gold rush era and the Swiss Italian immigrants who were early settlers. Beyond this you can visit one of the many beautiful country towns in our region, or historic buildings and gardens, forests, picnic areas and walking tracks. And then there is the mineral water. n

welcome to Castlemaine & Surrounds

The lure of gold sparked a flurry of mining that would later define Castlemaine. It was once the richest alluvial goldfield in the world and from 1851 Castlemaine attracted tens of thousands of diggers who came here to strike it rich. They came with expectations for a bright future.

Wealth and prosperity from gold gave rise to stately homes, fine civic buildings and large, formal gardens. Many of these remain as the legacy of the heady gold rush days. These historical landmarks beautifully reflect the optimism of the late 1800s.

Today this optimism and the grand architecture remain. Castlemaine has transformed into a vibrant and culturally-rich village bustling with a sophisticated energy. Renowned for the arts, the region is abuzz with quality cafes, eclectic shops, historic homes, festivals, gracious gardens and art galleries.

Today this optimism and the grand architecture remain. Castlemaine has transformed into a vibrant and culturally-rich village bustling with a sophisticated energy. ”

Daylesford & Surrounds

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PYRENEES

LYTTLETON

To Daylesford

To Bendigo

Daylesford & Surrounds

This Historically rich region is bursting with fascinating stories, discoveries and happenings from days gone by. Here are some historical highlights...

• Theregionisanancientlandscapewhichbearsthe imprint of many cultures. This is Jaara Jaara country and throughout the area our Aboriginal heritage can be discovered by seeing ancient meeting places, rock wells, artefacts and scar trees.

• In1851,goldwasdiscovered.Thisfindsetin motion a chain of events that would lead to largest peacetime migration of the 19th century and the greatest shallow alluvial gold rush the world has ever seen. By late 1852, an estimated 40,000 – 60,000 people occupied these goldfields.

• MountAlexanderDiggingsnowformspartoftheCastlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. This is Australia’s first national heritage park featuring bushland pockmarked with mine shafts, house sites and relics from the search of gold.

• TheCastlemaineMarketBuildingwasbuiltin1862 to house market stalls. The Roman goddess of agriculture, Ceres, sits high above the entrance. Today, the grand building is also home to the Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre.

• TheBurke&WillsMonumentofferssuperbtownviews from its elevated location in Mostyn St.

Robert O’Hara Burke, the ill-fated explorer, was the popular Superintendent of Police here from 1858-1860.

• TheTheatreRoyalistheoldestcontinuouslyoperating theatre in Victoria. On her triumphant Victorian Goldfields tour in 1856, the Spanish actress, Lola Montez, shocked and delighted patrons with her daring spider dance.

• ThefamousbeerCastlemaineXXXX,wasoriginallybrewed at Winters Flat, Castlemaine. Today, the siteisoccupiedbyXXXXAntiques.

• Novisittotheregioniscompletewithoutsampling a tin of Castlemaine Rock. Since 1853, this unique boiled lolly has been made to the same local recipe.

historical highlights

Daylesford & Surrounds

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To Melbourne& Gisborne

HWY

To Ballarat

To Avoca

To Bendigo

Enjoy the simple pleasure of strolling along a historic street, exploring our golden past or fossicking through the region’s distinctive shops and galleries. ”

Daylesford & Surrounds

Castlemaine and surrounds offers a myriad of things to do. Enjoy the simple pleasure of strolling along a historic street, exploring our golden past or fossicking through the region’s distinctive shops and galleries. There is something for all ages and here are a few ideas...

Castlemaine Botanical GardensThe delightful gardens were well established by 1860 and have now been placed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The fist curator was Philip Doran, a protégé of Baron von Mueller. There are many huge trees to stroll under, including an English Oak that is one of the oldest known cultivated trees in Victoria. The banks of Lake Joanna area are a peaceful picnic spot.

Gold ProspectingPeople still visit this area in hope of striking gold. Detailed maps highlighting prospecting areas are available at both the Maldon and Castlemaine Visitor Information Centres.

ShoppingIt is well-worth spending some time fossicking through the diverse and interesting shops throughout the town. Many retailers profile the products created by local artists and producers.

Historic Town WalksThanks to the efforts of the active historical societies in the regions, a wonderful suite of brochures profiling heritage sites has been developed. You’ll find these at the local Visitor Information Centre.

Forest Creek Diggings SiteTry your luck gold-panning in the shallows of Forest Creek and find out more about the mining heritage of the area with interpretive signage and mining relics. A guide to all nearby diggings sites is also available.

Victorian Goldfields RailwayExperience that old steam train ambience as you meander through the bushlands between Maldon and Castlemaine. It’s a classic journey full of nostalgia and a wonderful way to arrive in Maldon for a visit.

Very AccommodatingAn overnight stay in a luxurious accommodation property could be considered. Options are endless with elaborately furnished suites, intimate cottages, warm and hospitable Bed & Breakfasts or self-contained heritage homes with spa baths or claw-foot baths. These are just some of the blissful treats!

Daytrip DestinationsStunning villages and towns are conveniently located nearby our region making it a wonderful base from which to explore.Bendigo, Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Kyneton, Woodend & Maryborough are all an easy 30-40 minute drive away.

explore & experience

welcome to Maldon & Surrounds

The charming 19th century streetscape of Maldon is an authentic reminder of the days gone by. The old weatherboard homes, solid stone buildings and decorative shopfronts are undoubtedly the best preserved example of an Australian gold mining town.

Maldon was the first town to be declared ‘notable’ by the National Trust of Australia in 1966 and in 2006 was awarded the ‘most intact heritage streetscape’ by the National Trust.

The township was established after gold was found in 1853 at the foot of Mount Tarrengower. The abundance of gold extracted from the quartz reef mines soon rivalled some of the world’s richest sites.

Today cosy cafes, eateries with fine food, galleries and innovative shops line the historic streets. A steam train provided a nostalgic link from Maldon to Castlemaine. B&Bs, self-contained cottages and other accommodation styles are in abundance.

The abundance of gold extracted from the quartz reef mines soon rivalled some of the world’s richest sites. ”

explore & experience

Maldon is best explored on foot so that you don’t miss the intricate detail of the streetscape. The inspirational natural landscape around Maldon recently featured in the AFI award winning film Romulus, My Father. A memorable time awaits and here are a few ideas...

Victorian Goldfields RailwayExperience that old steam train ambience as you meander through the bushlands along the track between Maldon and Castlemaine. It’s a classic journey full of nostalgia. Look out for special events held throughout the year.

Maldon MuseumThe historic museum building was built as a Market place in the 1800’s and later became the old Shire Hall, before housing the museum from 1964. A fascinating collection of local domestic and mining memorabilia is featured, as well as records of interest to those researching the history of the old Shire of Maldon and its early families.

Carman’s Tunnel Gold MineThe tunnel was built through solid rock between 1882 and 1884. Follow in the footsteps of the miners and explore this 570 metre tunnel by candle light. Guided tours are available. Ñ

Galleries, Antiques & CollectablesFossicking for treasures at the many galleries, oldwares and antique shops is a treat. Collectables are still waiting to be retrieved from densely stocked stores and you might discover some up and coming artists.

ShoppingIt is well-worth spending some time enjoying the charming and diverse shops in Maldon. Many retailers profile the products created by local artists and producers. You will be sure to appreciate the relaxed pace and the generous country courtesy. To add a touch of pampering, why not indulge in a massage?

Historic Town WalksThanks to the efforts of the active historical societies in the region, a wonderful suite of brochures profiling heritage sites has been developed. You’ll find these at the local Visitor Information Centre. n

thank you for visiting Maldon, Castlemaine, Daylesford & Hepburn Springs

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Compiled with the assistance of

Maldon & Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre.

Images supplied by Visions of Victoria

(Official library of Tourism Victoria Australia)

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