We drove an hour from Bendigo this morning to Castlemaine - we are now in the middle of the Victorian goldfields! After a look around this charming goldrush town we drove out to Maldon - wow!- are we still in the 20th century!!! Think we hopped into a time machine this morning and we have been transported back to the 1850's! As far as the buildings are concerned - time has stood still! Amazing! Behind Maldon is Mt Tarrengower where we got an awesome 360 degree view of Central Victoria! Stunning!
We returned to Castlemaine and did our daily constitutional around the lovely Botanical Gardens 2kms of path ways and tracks, which is conveniently behind where we are staying.
CASTLEMAINE
Charming Castlemaine! .........
Major Mitchell explored the area; Dr W Baker's took up Mt Alexander's run; his hutkeeper and shepherds discovered gold in1851 at Specimen Gully. This news triggered the gold rush and Castlemaine became the centre of the Mt Alexander goldfields! An event of great social and economic significance in Australia! Loving the history!
The historic streetscape is charming and every shop and building has a tale to tell!!! - 150 years' worth!
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Market Building (now the Information Centre)
Constructed 1861-62 |
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Vendors backed their vehicles and unloaded the produce through doorways along the side into the arched stalls.
This was the central building of three. |
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The ANZ Bank on the left started as The Bank of Australasia
The pharmacy has been recently restored and was originally built as Goldsmith's Hotel in 1861,
one of numerous licensed premises in a thirsty gold mining town! |
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Guess what this old building is inside?
The local supermarket! |
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Theatre Royal c.1855
Behind he 1930's facade is one of the longest continuously operating entertainment establishments in Victoria |
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An old gold mining supply store, now a very popular cafe with the locals!
Great they have left the original advertising on the building
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The facades of some of the original shops are lovely -
a shame the air-con and garbage bins scar the scene! |
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The Restorer's Barn opened in 1994 and is unique in Victoria for its vast range of old wares.
Erected in 1856-57 as a furniture store, tis building became licensed as The Mt Alexander Hotel in 1863 by the Newbys. In 1907, after 44 years of trading, the building was bought by W. J. Stoneman who converted it into a produce, ironmongery and grocery store
An store is amazing - you can potter around in there for ages!!!!
See inside the store a few pics below |
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The Traded Hall, built 1854 - originally a dressmakers store-
the sign can be made out on the side wall. |
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| Love the letter box! |
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| Crossing the main street of Castlemaine to get to......... |
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Peter and his new friend!
You can find anything at the Restorer's Barn! ......I'm referring to the pig! |
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| I know someone who would love this room! :) |
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Now the "Empyre, this was the Albion Hotel, one of three hotels just in this block - the iron lacing is beautiful |
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| The Gold Warden's Office |
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| The lockup! Bit fancy!!! |
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| The Court House, 1877 |
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The Imperial Hotel, 1861
Built in "grand" style with an interesting mansard roof |
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| The Town Hall, 1898, replacing the plainer Municipal Chambers of c.1862 |
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| First Telegraph Communication 1st January 1857! |
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| In 1851 the wheel tracks from major Mitchell's ox carts(from 1836) were still visible in the yard. |
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| The local RSL |
MALDON
Magic Maldon! - Australia's First Notable Town! It was given this title in recognition that time has stood still here - the buildings are still as they were in the 1850's! - relatively unaffected by the march of time and progress. Time warp! (except the cars give it away! and the plastic garbage bins!)
Trivia for today - Australian author Henry Handel Richardson lived in Maldon as a young girl when her mother was the postmistress!
Click on the pics to enlarge
If we are missing from the 20th century this is where we are........
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| The building still has the "Bank of New South Wales" brass plaque beside the door |
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You can ride the historic railway between Castlemaine and Maldon
on a steam train |
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| The old Maldon Train Station |
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MT TARRENGOWER
Watching over Maldon is Mount Tarrengower (570 metres ) with its spectacular 360 views of Central Victoria. This area was once under the sea. Erosion and volcanic activity have altered the shape of the old sea bed. From the tower you can now see two quite distinctive landforms. To the south lie grassy plains: the result of volcanic activity and lava flow. To the east, north and west is the old sea bed, now rolling hills of sandstone, box and iron- bark forest country.
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Mt Tarrengower is the centre of Victoria (give or take a few miles)
The view is amazing and "This scenery is linked to an event of mythical proportions - the Victorian gold rush." |
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Mt Macedon
Home of Hanging Rock |
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| Looking towards Mt Macedon from Level 1 |
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| Looking over Maldon to Mt Alexander - an extensive range of granite |
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| Maldon nestled beneath the mountain |
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| Looking towards the Grampians from Level 1 |
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| Looking across to Maryborough, the Grampians on the horizon, and the Cairn Curran Reservoir midground |
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| Looking towards Mt Franklin, an extinct volcano and Daylesford. |
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| Looking towards the Pyrenees on the horizon |
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| Mountain bikes and riders being brought up the mountain - a popular tourist activity in the are |
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| The grassy plains of the south - the result of volcanic eruptions and lava flow |
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| Looking towards the Grampians from Level 2 |
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| Heading up / down to/ from the second platform! Did our extreme sport for the day!!! |
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One of the mountain bike riders heads off down the road, the others dropped over
the side of the mountain into the bush!!!
Who will get to the bottom first?? |
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| The geography |
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The Tarrengower Lookout!
A mine poppet- head transported here from Comet Mine in Bendigo in 1923
Bit of a thrill clambering up there - it was very windy!!! |
Heading back to Castlemaine......................
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| The Welsh Church |
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The Old Castlemaine Goal
Very big for a little town - guess they needed it for all gold robbers!!!? |
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| Castlemaine from the Gaol on the hill |
Our afternoon constitutional around the beautiful Castlemaine Botanical Gardens........
The land was set aside in 1860 for the gardens, making it one of the earliest of Victoria's many botanic gardens. The site began development in 1863 and the first curator, Philip Doran was appointed in 1866. He was curator for 47 years and responsible for the gardens lovely design. The Gardens is on the register of the National Estate and Victorian Heritage Register.
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| Photo taken c.1915 |
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The same spot today
Which trees are still standing? |
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Massive English Oak
Makes Pete look small! |
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| There are 7 other trees in the Gardens which are listed as significant trees in Victoria by the National Trust |
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Towering!
Beautiful patterned bark of the Western Yellow Pine |
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| An avenue of old Pines |
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| Beautiful! |
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| Picnic area and playground |
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Lake Joanne
Built in the 1870's
It took prisoners from the Castlemaine Gaol nine months to excavate |
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| Sitting on a nest |
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| The main entrance to the Gardens |
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| Possibly the original curator's home, now the Tourist Park Office |
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| The Bush Hut at the Tourist Park = the camp kitchen |
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| Inside the camp kitchen - even its historical! |
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| The MH and our view into the Botanical Gardens |
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