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Goldfields :
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"On golden soils let us rejoice..." certainly these words of the Australian national anthem were not intended to be a direct reference to Australians golden fields, but much of Australia's history has been enriched by the discovery of gold.
There are few better ways to really understand and connect with Australia than by taking a tour through some of Australias favorite golden towns of Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. All of these towns have something unique to offer and visitors are sure to leave loving Australia even more.
How to get there
The beautiful historic goldfields of Ballarat are only 115 km or approximately an hours and a half's drive from Victoria’s capital city of Melbourne.Although Ballarat is a small city by Australian standards, it has carefully preserved its heritage and proudly offers a great deal of insight into Australian history.
Getting there is easy by taking the Westgate freeway taking the exit onto the Western Ring Road and finally a left onto the Western highway.
From there it’s all straight ahead.
Ballarat
Although Ballarat may be just a day trip out from Melbourne there is so much to see here visitors may like to really spend a few days.Ballarat is known for the fifth largest goldfield productions to date.
It was found in 1838 by William Cross Yuille and Henry Anderson.
Ballarat was first know as Ballaarat meaning "resting place" from the Indigenous Australians first known to come to Australia.
In 1851, gold was reported to be found in the rivers bedding streaming down the side of the hills in Ballarat.
Till 1917, the goldfields in Ballarat were mined significantly.
Until 1984, most of the mining was sporadic.
A visit to the recreated mining town of
Sovereign Hill should not be missed.
Ballarat is also known for the armed civil war once known as the Erueka Stockade and now referred to as the Erueka Rebellion.
December 1854, during the Erueka Rebellion, 22 miners were killed making history in Australia.
Today the area is a historical park for the memorial event.
Visitors are treated with a particularly emotional display in the evenings called "Blood on the Southern Cross".
As part of WWII, Ballarat was part of Air Training as the aerodrome was established in 1930.
The USAF bomber squadrons used this area for a base with the RAAF Wireless Air Gunners School.
Ballarat houses the oldest and most extensive works of art in all of Australia.
Performing arts has been established in the theatrical community within the city.
Ballarat even has a night life with a variety of themed restaurants, dance clubs, wine bars, hotels, and a large cinema complex.
Bendigo
Over an hour from Ballarat is Bendigo. Getting from Ballarat to Bendigo is simply a matter of heading along Daylesford Ballarat Road for a country drive. Don’t pack your camera away, there are some pretty farm lands along the way. The run might seem long from time to time so take it with relaxation in mind. Keep on going on to Midland Highway, continue on to Calder Highway eventually you will meet Mclivor Highway.For travellers wanting to go straight to Bendigo from Melbourne, the trip will take less than two hours.
Bendigo is a place of heritage arts, cultures, food and wine.
The gold rush of the 1850s helped produce ornate buildings that were built with a Victorian style, contributing to a picturesque French cityscape.
Tourism in Bendigo is largely based on its gold industry.
The central Deborah Goldmine is certainly worth a look.
Bendigo houses the third largest cathedral in Australia.
Sacred Heart Cathedral built of sandstone is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Chinese miners in 1860 built the only surviving place of worship in regional Victoria.
The Joss House, a one of a kind building, is a historic temple.
Castlemaine
Only 40 minutes away from Bendigo is Castlemaine.From Bendigo take the Calder Highway turning right onto the Midland Highway.
Visitors coming straight from Melbourne will only find themselves on the road for about an hour and a half.
Castlemaine is a former gold mining town, located between the cities of Ballarat and Bendigo.
Castlemaine is now an agricultural and tourism city, located at the junction of three creeks in a valley.
Historical streets, 1860s Botanical Gardens and historical gold mines are just some of the tourist attractions Castlemaine has to offer.
Taking a ride on a steam train through the Victorian Goldfields is certainly and positively an ideal way to truly experience the Australian gold fields. A trip with the Victorian Goldfields railway will take you through the historic towns of Castlemaine and Maldon, and along Box-Iron Bark forest, a region that saw some of the richest gold mining in Australia.
Castlemaine also offers a galleries, museums, and old Castlemaine Goal.
Kalimna Tourist Road offers bushwalking and scenic views of the park and countryside.
Cities and towns such as Ballarat, Bendigo, and Castlemaine hold historical memories of gold mining fields.
Some of the fields are still being mined for gold today, with historical memories rich with Australian flavor.
To truly appreciate Australia, a gold mine tour is absolutely recommended.
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Goldfields
Accommodation: Ballarat | Bendigo | Castlemaine
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