A centre for the mixed farming of the district, Kyneton is known for its landscaped streets and excellently preserved bluestone buildings, some of which pre-date the 1850s goldrush. A Daffodil and Arts Festival is held every spring. One of the early areas of agricultural development in inland Victoria, farming commenced in 1841, the townsite was surveyed in 1847 after a visit by Gov. Charles Joseph La Trobe. Kyneton boomed during the goldrush as it supplied most of the fresh food needed by the miners and prospectors at the diggings at Ballarat and Bendigo. English born philanthropist and early feminist Caroline Chisholm lived in Kyneton in the 1850s when her family kept a store and her husband sat on the magistrate's court bench.
Location: 83 km north of Melbourne on the Calder Highway and Campaspe River.
Points of Interest: Campaspe River; Lauriston Reservoir; Malmsbury Reservoir; historic buildings - Old Malt House; Mechanic's Institute; Old police Depot; La Trobe's Country House; Meskills Woolstore (built as a butter factory in 1862); Bank of NSW building (1855); Drop Log Cottage (1840); 'Barbower' homestead and outbuildings (1852-53) Windmill, 'Windmill Farm' (c.1854); Old Rectory (1854); Attic house (1857-58); 'The Lawns' (c.1871); 'Campaspe Villa' (1855-56); Kyneton District Hospital (1854-55); 'Brennanah' (c.1898); 'St Agnes' stables (c1876)and cottages (c.1872); 'Sunbury' Lodge homestead and barns (c.1880); 'Rock House' (c.1853-54); Old Mill (1859)
