Victoria's oldest inland town, modern Kilmore has virtually become a satellite of Melbourne. The town is an important racing and trotting centre, the Kilmore Pacing Cup is Australia's richest provincial harness race. Kilmore was a stronghold of early Celtic settlers from Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall, and remains a strong Celtic area to this day. The Kilmore Celtic Festival, held on the last weekend of June every year, celebrates the Celtic influence on the area.
Many of Kilmore's oldest extant buildings are made of bluestone including the hospital, old court house, former post office, some churches, a gaol, and a monument to Hume and Hovell near the golf course.
The Kilmore Harness Racing Carnival is held in October, the Highland Games in November and the Agricultural Show in early December.
Location: 61km north of Melbourne on the Northern Highway.
Points of Interest: Historic Cable Tram (Hudson Park); Victoria Tramway Museum; historic buildings - Old Post Office; Former Police Barracks; Whitburgh Cottage; former Town Hall (c.1894); Kilmore Gaol (1857); Whitburgh Cottage (built for Scottish coachbuilder and blacksmith William Smeaton, 1853)