| Central Victoria Directory |
 About the region: In 1851 the Gold Rush began in central Victoria, with gold strikes drawing thousands of prospectors from all corners of the world to this area in search of wealth. The Gold Rush has left behind a rich and lasting legacy within towns in the region, particularly in the larger cities of Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. Beautiful architecture, grand public buildings, statues, fountains and exquisite gardens are all features of those cities.
Touring through Central Victoria you’ll pass sights that are signatures of the region today - historic bluestone buildings, boutique shops with windows full of treats, sighposts to cellar doors and fresh farm produce, reflecting the impressive array of wineries and fruit-growing orchards in the region.
Around Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges is the largest concentration of natural mineral springs in the country. Their therapeutic waters are a major drawcard, and a thriving industry has been built around physical and spiritual wellness including spa treatments, massages and acupuncture.
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| Sovereign Hill, Ballarat |
Clunes library |
Macedon |
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National Parks
Natural Attractions
Caves
Waterfalls
Historic Places
- Castlemaine: Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park; Wattle Gully Gold Mine; Garfield Water Wheel (Chewton, 4 km south of Castlemaine). Herons Reef Gold Diggings displays early methods of gold extraction and an authentic digger's hut dating back to 1867; historic buildings - Town Market (1861); historic buildings
- Charlton: Charlton Golden Grain Museum; St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (1871)
- Clunes: Clunes Central Conservation Area
- Dunolly: Historical Museum; Tarnagulla ghost town (13 km north east); historic buildings
- Inglewood: General Store Museum; sites of the major gold nugget finds are signposted; historic buildings
- Kyneton: historic buildings
- Macedon: Emu Bottom Homestead
- Maldon: Maldon Historic Reserve; Union Mine Kilns; Beehive Chimney; Carman's Tunnel Goldmine (2 km from Maldon); historic buildings; Historic shops in Maldon
- Maryborough: Pioneer Memorial Tower; Simpson memorial cairn; historic buildings; Civic Square Conservation Area
- Smeaton: Smeaton House (1844-50); Hepburn graves, Smeaton House; Oatmeal Mill and Water Wheel
- St Arnaud: Pioneer Park; Many of the town's Victorian era buildings are protected by the National Trust
- Wedderburn: historic buildings
Misc. Places of Interest
- Avoca: Pyrenees wine region; historic buildings
- Ballarat: Ballarat Botanical Gardens; Victory Arch and Avenue of Honour (22 km long on Burrumbeet Rd); Eureka Military Museum; Sovereign Hill Historic Park; Flagstaff Hill Lookout; Shell House; Kryal Castle; Dinosaur World; various historic buildings including Great Southern Woolshed; Eureka Stockade Memorial; Adam Gordon Lindsay's cottage (1867)
- Bendigo: Central Deborah Mine; The Bendigo Whipstick (10 km north); historic buildings including Shamrock Hotel; Chinese Joss House; Sacred Heart Cathedral (completed 1977); Sandhurst Town (recreation of a gold town at Myers Flats, 10 km north west of Bendigo); Hartland's Eucalyptus Oil Factory; Bendigo tramway
- Boort: Boort Historical Museum
- Carisbrook: Tullarop Creek Aboriginal stone arrangements and sacred sites (one of only four remaining Aboriginal stone arrangements in Victoria)
- Charlton: Wooroonook Lake (swimming and boating); Bish Deer Farm; Charlton Weir
- Daylesford: Central Highlands Tourist Railway; Hepburn Spa Complex
- Elmore: Campaspe Run Rural Discovery Centre; Waranga-Malee irrigation channels
- Heathcote: Pink cliffs (eroded mining spoil); Lake Eppalock (Victoria's fourth largest reservoir); historic Powder Magazine (1864); Mt. Camel Range Aboriginal stone quarries
- Kyneton: Campaspe River; Lauriston Reservoir; Malmsbury Reservoir
- Macedon: Memorial Cross (at the summit of Mt. Macedon); Civil Defence training Centre; Calder Raceway; Mt. Macedon Gardens; Macedon area Aboriginal site
- Maldon: Victorian Goldfields Railway (vintage steam railway on original line through the area)
- Maryborough: Anderson's Mill; Turraloop Dam (1959)
- St Arnaud: Botanic Gardens, Kara Kara Vineyard; Stuart Mill (23 km south); Teddington and Volcano Reservoirs
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