The Goldfields 6/1

Having already been to Bendigo we decided to see more of the Goldfield towns. We took a 400km tourist drive through the Central region. We first went to Ballarat. A third of Victoria's gold came from Ballarat and it was also the scene of the Australia's only armed civil rebellion in 1854 known as the Eureka Stockade.





We then travelled through Creswick, Daylesford, and Castlemaine (where the beer originated from - its now in Queensland) to arrive at Maldon. Maldon was Australia's first 'notable town' awarded to towns where historical buildings are still intact.



The Victorian Goldfields railway still runs today using steam engines on the original tracks.



Mount Tarrangower is the highest point in the region and has a great lookout tower. It was very windy up there and the ladder was shaking when you climbed it.



Maryborough was next, where the architecture was very European influenced.



Clunes is another well preserved gold town. The shops still have their original signs over them. This is as busy as it gets on a Saturday. Its also been used as a film location in a number of productions like Ned Kelly and Mad Max.



We returned via Ballarat where the heavens opened. For most of the day it had been overcast but very humid.

People are still discovering the odd golden nugget in the area today. Sadly we didn't but its still out there.