Castlemaine is a former gold mining town, located between the cities of Ballarat and Bendigo and situated in a valley at the junction of three creeks.
Years after prosperous gold mining days passed, Castlemaine established itself as a town with a thriving agricultural, arts and tourism industry.
Castlemaine s historic streetscapes are a reminder of its immensely rich gold mining days, with many magnificent public buildings located in Mostyn Street and Lyttleton Street. Highlights include the Theatre Royal (built in 1857 and continuously in use since then), the Castlemaine Market (completed in 1862 and now housing the Visitor Information Centre), the red brick town hall (1898) and courthouse (1889). The former technical school (built in 1918) has been converted into a modern supermarket, but retains its historical building facade.
Several historic churches and hotels can also be found around Castlemaine s town centre. At the eastern end of Mostyn Street is the towering Burke and Wills monument, erected in 1862 to honour the death of these famous explorers. From the monument are good views down to the town centre.
In 1860, 25 hectares of gold diggings along Barkers Creek were set aside for the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. Recognised as one of Victoria s oldest public gardens, they feature ancient oak and elm trees, colourful garden beds, open lawns, a rotunda and Lake Joanna. The Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, to the south and east of town, covers 7,500 hectares and includes relics of the gold mining era.
The Kalimna Tourist Road, on the eastern town boundary of Castlemaine, straddles a ridge through the park, offering scenic views across surrounding countryside and bushwalking opportunities.
Heathcote is situated at the junction of the Northern and McIvor Highways, between Bendigo and Kilmore. Heathcote originally developed mainly due a number of significant gold strikes in the area that began in 1851, which resulted tens of thousands of people living in the area, mostly in tents and shacks on the fields. The population declined as the gold dwindled during the 1890s, with the town s focus shifting to logging, sheep and cattle production. In recent times, Heathcote has become recognised as a producer of extraordinary Shiraz wine, with a large selection of vineyards, many with cellar doors, dotted across the landscape.
Heathcote s commercial centre is situated along the long tree lined boulevard of High Street, which features a number buildings of historical significance. The Camp Hill Gaol, located in Herriot Street, was built in 1861, while the town s hospital features a sandstone structure built in 1859.
The McIvor Creek runs parallel to High Street, passing through Barrack Reserve which offers BBQ areas and sporting facilities. A number of attractions are worth exploring in the Heathcote region. The Mount Ida Lookout, accessed via Mt Ida Road off the Northern Highway, offers good views over the surrounding district. Closer to town is the Viewing Rock lookout, accessed via Range Drive, providing views over the town centre. Pink Cliffs, off Pink Cliffs Road, features brightly coloured pinnacles and valleys which were creating during gold mining activities.
Author Resource:-
Charlotte Giles is a travel writer for last minute accommodation site - LastBeds. Charlotte is currently touring country Victoria in search of historic towns and cheap hotel accommodation.
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