Gold Prospecting & Detecting
The Central Goldfields has been famous for its alluvial gold for over 150 years. Of the 40 nuggets weighing over 18 kilograms that have been recorded in Australia, 32 of them have been discovered in C...
Read MoreBendigo is a vibrant contemporary regional centre, boasting beautiful streets created from one of the world’s greatest gold rushes. Every visit will reveal new surprises and experiences.
Castlemaine boasts a remarkable community of artists, writers, actors and designers, who offer a host of galleries, theatres, festivals, bookshops and boutiques. It’s a theme that runs through nearby Maldon, Newstead and Harcourt.
Rich in history and opportunity... today’s visitors come to Maryborough and the surrounding villages for many reasons. Many come to wander through the lovely box-ironbark forests with their wildflowers, birds and superb display of Wattle in the spring. Others come to research family history and discover a connection to the Victorian gold rush, or to visit nearby wineries or explore markets, galleries and museums.
Take a deep breath… and travel along the meandering roads of the Loddon Valley. They start at untouched historic villages, weave their way up to spectacular views on granite strewn hilltops, through ancient forests, and then alongside wide flowing rivers and vast wetlands.
One of Australia's oldest and largest regional galleries presenting innovative exhibitions alongside a dynamic and varied suite of public programs and events. Our collection is extensive, with an emphasis on 19th century European art and Australian art from the 1800's, alongside a strong collection of contemporary Australian art.
Bendigo Venues and Events nurtures, develops, presents and celebrates performing arts and culture for Bendigo and central Victorian communities.
Throughout the year, find fabulous festivals and events offering the perfect chance to meet the friendly residents, taste the great local produce and see why Heathcote is one of the best, and most beautiful, places in the world.
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Visit RegionWhen gold was discovered in regional Victoria in the 1850s, it wasn’t long before word got out, and the result was the gold rush that built the Central Goldfields.
The large regional cities of Bendigo and Ballarat are well known for the beautiful architecture the gold rush afforded them. The smaller towns within the Central Goldfields like Maryborough inherited buildings from this rich and prosperous time, many now housing museums, galleries and great cafés. Known as the Golden Triangle, the area from Ballarat, across to Bendigo and up to Wedderburn, was quite literally rich with gold. World famous for the purity, quantity and size of the nuggets found in the area, eager miners and prospectors flocked to the region in search of their fortune.
Much of the gold uncovered in the Golden Triangle is alluvial – from the bed of a river or a stream, as opposed to digging it from rock ‘reefs’. The world’s largest alluvial gold nugget, the Welcome Stranger, was uncovered in 1869 in Moliagul and the Moliagul Historical Reserve is located at the site today. Moliagul, like other towns in the area, continues to have modern day diggers seeking their fortune, and tours via Coiltek Gold Centre and Golden Nugget Tours can point you in the right direction. However, as yet no one has uncovered a nugget quite the 69kg size of the Welcome Stranger!
The Goldfields Museum in Dunolly has a fantastic replica collection of locally found gold nuggets, including the Welcome Stranger, as well as historical records from this fascinating era.
The Central Goldfields has been famous for its alluvial gold for over 150 years. Of the 40 nuggets weighing over 18 kilograms that have been recorded in Australia, 32 of them have been discovered in C...
Read MoreVisiting the site of Amherst today, it’s hard to believe it was once a thriving township during the gold rush era. Very little remains of the town, which had an estimated population of 30,000 at its p...
Read MoreWhen you’re wandering through the natural beauty of the Craigie Forest, it’s hard to imagine that the now peaceful surrounds were once a noisy, steamy hub of late 1800s gold mining technology.
Read More2km southwest of the town of Moliagul is a granite obelisk erected in 1897 to mark the discovery site of the Welcome Stranger. Found in 1869, the 69kg gold nugget is the largest alluvial, or reef, nug...
Read MoreThe first recorded discovery of gold in Moliagul was in September 1852 and, before long, the area was flooded with over 4,000 miners. Two of those miners, John Deason and Richard Oates, had arrived i...
Read MoreThe Maryborough Railway Station opened in 1874 and quickly established its importance as a major junction within country Victoria. The current building was built in 1890 – a grand red brick building f...
Read MoreMaryborough and Surrounds is the perfect place to play explorer. Whether you’re seeking adventure or beauty in the stunning landscape; or history and heritage in the gold rush era villages; it’s not d...
Read MoreFor a truly immersive experience, take a tour and enjoy a professional’s perspective on the Central Goldfields region. Regardless of your age or interest, there is more to be uncovered than you may ha...
Read MoreDisplays and artwork are carefully put together to give a great viewing experience that draws in the viewer.
Read MoreThe Talbot Museum houses the Edwards collection of photographs, documents and letters, plus trade and lifestyle material from an early settler, watchmaker and jeweller, JB Edwards and his descendants.
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