GOLDFIELDS
The discovery of gold in Victoria's central region over 150 years ago has left a rich and lasting legacy of grand hotels and public buildings along the main streets of Ballarat and Bendigo, historic gardens and homesteads, and quaint shopfronts and miners' cottages in townships such as Maldon, Castlemaine and Stawell.
Learn about gold rush history at one of the region's historic attractions. Sovereign Hill, The Eureka Centre and the Central Deborah Gold Mine all offer a fascinating insight into life above and below the ground during the 1850s and 1860s. The Eureka Centre describes the nation's only armed rebellion, the 1854 Eureka Rebellion, and The Golden Dragon Museum is a colourful record of Bendigo's enduring Chinese heritage and home to Sun Loong, the world's longest Imperial Dragon.
Take a break from exploring The Goldfields at a stylish local cafe or restaurant. Famous for it's traditional pies, the region is home to renowned bakeries and pie shops. Local restaurants make the most of the fine local produce of the region, and you can sample the local wines, olives, apples and more direct from the farm gate or cellar door.
The region offers a variety of activities. Visit historic botanic gardens, or see superb collections of local and European painting at two of Australia's best regional galleries the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery and Bendigo Art Gallery.
Bendigo was first discovered in 1850, sparking the second gold rush in Victoria. Central Deborah Gold Mine, now a museum, was the last active mine in the area when it closed in 1954. Join a guided tour and go underground into the restored mine, where visitors descend the equivalent of a 30-storey building to explore the main shaft.
Chinese immigration to Australia was sparked by the discovery of rush. Bendigo is still home to a large Chinese community as well as the Golden Dragon Museum and Chinese Garden, which document the history of Chinese migration to country Victoria.
Visit the historic Bendigo Pottery, Australia's oldest working producer of ceramics, view a collection of Australian art dating back to 1850 at the Bendigo Art Gallery, or fossick for gold at the nearby Whipstick State Park.
