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The Goldfields Art Galleries

The Goldfields Art Galleries
While the goldrush has slipped gently into history, you can still capture the optimistic spirit of its pioneers. The Goldfields region abounds in picturesque botanical gardens and impressive regional art galleries born from the optimism of the pioneers.
The Bendigo Art Gallery is outstanding. Local surgeon Neptune-Scott bequeathed his 19th century French Collection which shows Sisley, Harpignes, Courbet, Rosseau and Hortlear to the gallery. Such acts of generosity were not uncommon in these times. Many wealthy mining magnates were collectors of Australian and European Art and they would often bequeath them to the local galleries. Australian artists represented in this region include George Lambert, Rupert Bunny, Ray Crooke, Clifton Pugh and Fred Williams. The Gallery houses the largest Louis Buvelot collection in Australia.
The contents of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery are equally impressive. A key feature is the Lindsay Gallery where works of art by Lionel Lindsay and other members of the family are on display. The only surviving item from this artistic family´s house in Creswick is their sitting room which you can also see in the gallery. Paintings of Eugene Von Guerard portraying Ballarat in the 1850s and those of Waiter Withers, E. Phillips Fox and other early Australian School Painters are also on display.
At the Gallery at Castlemaine you can see Frederick McCubbin´s Golden Sunlight which was donated by Dame Nellie Melba. You can also admire the works of Tom Roberts and E. Phillips Fox who underline the importance of the Heidelberg School in the development of Australian art. And that is not to mention the several Margaret Preston´s you will discover here.
Collectively these three Victorian art galleries hold some of Australia´s key art pieces and other works which portray early regional scenes are valuable historical references and certainly worth noting.
You will discover many outdoor works of art in both Ballarat and Bendigo which also mark the exuding confidence of the goldrush.

The Victorian goldfields

The Goldfields
VICTORIA
Just an hours drive north-west of Melbourne lie the Goldfields. With a heritage as rich as the ground on which it stood, this was once the home for tens of thousands who flocked here over a century ago in search of instant wealth. And while the goldrush has passed quietly into history, you can still capture the spirit of the pioneers in a region of ornate Victorian architecture, grand streetscapes and picturesque botanical gardens.

The Goldfields Towns and Attractions
BENDIGO
The huge amount of gold discovered at Bendigo has also left an extravagant mark, making it the most splendid mid-19th century Victorian city in Australia. When you drive through the main street of Bendigo you´ll be struck by the city´s obvious pride. Flamboyant in appearance, the journey down its side streets unveils even more remarkable buildings - baroque mansions, gothic cathedrals and Georgian-style homes.
Bendigo was the greatest goldfield of all in Victoria. Extending over 360 square kilometres, it comprised about 35 gold-bearing reefs with a total output of more than 22 million ounces. These riches built a grand city which is often regarded as the best-preserved example of Victorian architecture in the State - and possibly Australia. Any city in the world would be proud to boast Pall Mall and its handsome buildings.
The affluence and taste is also reflected in elegant villas such as Fortuna, the home of mine owner George Lansell. Known as the ´Quartz King´, he was a larger than life goldmining entrepreneur whose shafts were always the deepest and whose enthusiasm spread and filled the city with optimism and excitement.
Humble single-fronted miners cottages now house fine art, as does the outstanding Bendigo Art Gallery. Here you are offered an insight into the European settlement in this area. The Gallery contains significant European and Australian art collections and has the largest Louis Buvelot collection in the country.
In total contrast, a large portion of Bendigo´s rich heritage is due to its Chinese associations. The Chinese arrived in Bendigo in 1854 and China Town was once found in Bridge Street. Today, however, it is the Golden Dragon Museum which contains the treasure-trove of Chinese ceremonial regalia, including the dragons Loong and Sun Loong. If you visit Bendigo during the Easter break you can see the Easter Monday Chinese Procession where Sun Loong, carried by 60 people, is paraded.
The brilliant red Chinese Jess House is an equally startling find. Bright banners, sacred offerings and a variety of tiny alters are found inside. You can also see aspects of Chinese life portrayed in wax at the Dai Gum San Wax Museum.
Situated right in the heart of the city is the Central Deborah Mine shaft which passes through 17 levels to a depth of almost 400 metres. The last deep-reef mine in the area to close, it has been fully restored and is a working exhibit for the public.
Linking many of these attractions are the vintage ´talking´ trams. You can listen to a taped commentary on the sights you will pass, identifying points of interest along the way. This eight kilometre tram tour starts and ends at the Central Deborah Mine.
While you are here, why not supplement your visual experience with some of the town´s many gourmet pleasures. Wine connoisseurs will delight at the boutique wineries scattered throughout the hills and valleys surrounding Bendigo.
Other attractions include Bendigo Pottery, Australia´s oldest pottery still in operation and Sweenies Creek Pottery. At Sandhurst Town, a short drive from Bendigo, you can relive the gold rush days in this faithfully re-created mining town.

HARCORT

HARCORT
Harcourt was once the centre of the apple growing industry in Australia and today it still produces $30 million worth of fruit. Here you can buy fresh local apples from roadside stalls, drop into a local winery for a tasting or view the orchids and walk through the butterfly house at Skydancers cafe. Visit the nearby Oak Forest and the Koala Park atop Mt Alexander.

Ballarat

The Golden City Paddle Steamer, PO Box 64, BALLARAT 3350, Phone: (03) 53 311556.
Idyllic cruise on the 110 year old Golden City Paddle Steamer around beautiful Lake Wendouree Ballarat.

Melbourne

Melbourne
Queen Victoria Market Sunday Morning
Football match at the MCG
Coffee in Brunswick St
Pizza in Lygon St
Tram to the Esplanade, St Kilda - Sunday Afternoon
Australian Tennis Open - Melbourne Park Jan

Wilsons Promontory National Park

Wilsons Promontory National Park Just three hours from Melbourne is one of the finest national parks in the country, the 50,000 hectare Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Wilsons Promontory - which juts out into Bass Strait - constitutes the southernmost point of the Australian mainland. It was described by explorer George Bass as the "cornerstone of this continent called "New Holland" after he saw the Prom in the first days of 1798.
Bass named the area Furneaux´s Land but it was later renamed in honour of a prominent London businessman, Thomas Wilson. It is believed Wilsons Promontory was once part of a "land bridge" connecting the mainland with Tasmania. In another age the Prom is thought to have been an island. The gradual build up of a 20 kilometre stretch of sand dunes, known as the Yanakie Isthmus, is said to have reconnected the Prom with the mainland.
The Aborigines who once lived here were members of the Boon-Oor-Rong tribe and their middens are still evident on the western side of the promontory. Long before Bass´s official visit, the area was frequented by sealers and whalers. Whale bones can still be seen in the waters of Sealers and Refuge Coves on the eastern side.
In many respects it is still much the same as it was at the time of Bass´s first visit. It is comprised of imposing granite mountains, sweeping plains, thick forests and some of the finest beaches in the country. These range from sheltered little coves to long surf beaches.
The Prom is the ideal place for bushwalking and a full appreciation of the magnificent array of native wildlife Australia has to offer. The friendliest are the parrots which flock around anyone offering food at Tidal River.
Tidal River is the "capital" of the Prom. It is made up of an information centre, museum, caravan and camping grounds with some cabins. Here you will find a cairn which acknowledges the use of the Prom as a commando training camp during World War II.

Ballarat

, Stoney Rises, SMEATON, Phone: (03) 53 456233.
Perched on a historic 1850´s sheep station, Tuki is in the heart of Victoria´s Gold and Spa Country. Incorporating sheep farming, trout fishing, restaurant, conference and accommodation facilities.

Echuca

ECHUCA/MOAMA
Echuca, hub of The Murray River trade of the 1870s and 80s, remains faithfully intact 100 years on. Here you can re-live the river boat days - days when Echuca was Australia´s largest inland port. Bawdy hotels, general stores crammed with supplies and the public buildings of law and order sprung up out of this frantic activity. Two hundred trading boats carrying wool, grain and red gum passed through the port every year.
Today, as then, the Port remains the true heart of Echuca. The River traffic still bustles but this time their cargo is pleasure seekers. The Port area is serviced by Murray Esplanade, a pedestrian walk flanked by fine 19th Century buildings. These have been faithfully restored so visitors can experience the sights sounds and smells of this "step back in time" community.
There is no entry fee to Murray Esplanade. Stroll past the towering red gum wharf, once a kilometre long, which still stands as a lasting monument to the Murray River´s major inland port. The wharf was built on three levels to accommodate the rise and fall of the mighty Murray River and is still used to house a collection of some of the world´s oldest "still operating" paddlesteamers and barges and other paraphernalia.
The Star Hotel on Murray Esplanade - now the headquarters of the Port of Echuca Authority, a souvenir shop and a Museum - is linked with the wharf by an underground tunnel which allowed the old timers to avoid the police who frequently raided the hotel looking for after hours "drinkers".
Discover the Bridge Hotel, built by the Echuca´s founder Henry Hopwood in 1858, furnished in period style. It is a living monument to the many travellers who crossed the river on Hopwood´s punt to quench their thirst.
A unique feature of the Esplanade is the only brothel (no longer operating) in Australia which is classified by the National Trust.
The sounds of horse drawn Cobb & Co coaches, the steam whistles of the paddlesteamers, the clang of the blacksmith´s hammer and the buzz of the massive saw as it slices through the red gum logs, the laughter from the old time Movie House or the clatter of coins in the Penny Arcade are all part of the living history experience of the Port of Echuca.
At the western end of Murray Esplanade you enter Hopwood Gardens, now referred to as Paddlewheel Park, which sprawl along the river bank. This is the embarkation point for a one hour cruise aboard the PS Pride of the Murray, PS Canberra or MV Mary Ann, or for a one or two night cruise aboard the PS Emmylou which is a fully licensed floating hotel.
Visitors to Echuca can experience the river as Captain of their own "drive yourself" houseboat. The more adventurous can join a guided canoeing safari.
Echuca/Moama is the closest Murray River community to Melbourne, about 206 kilometres, and in addition to Australia´s river history, it boasts magnificent sporting facilities. These include the Rich River Golf and Country Club, the first class bowling greens at the Moama bowling Club, croquet, water skiing and fishing.

HAMILTON

HAMILTON
Built on lava flows which date back some 4.5 million years, Hamilton is the wool capital of the world. One of the biggest attractions is the Big Wool-bales which houses a comprehensive history of the district´s wool producing heritage. Many of the city´s grand buildings and fine homes are a direct result of the wealth and prosperity of the wool industry.
Within an easy drive of Hamilton are the extinct volcanoes of Mt Eccles, Mt Napier and Mt Rouse. Their landscape is awe inspiring, as are the myriad of caves and lava blisters in the area.
Hamilton also has one of Victoria´s best regional galleries and the Botanic Gardens are a nature lover´s delight.
Sir Reginald Ansett, Australia´s commercial aviation pioneer, lived in Hamilton. Today, you can step inside his relocated company hangar at the Ansett Transport Museum and be transported back to the earliest days of commercial flight.
At Hamilton you´ll find the only surviving Victorian colony of the rare Eastern Barred Bandicoot , a small furry marsupial with rabbit like ears.

Ballarat Springmount Pottery

Springmount Pottery, Midland Hwy. CRESWICK 3363 Phone: (03) 5345 2856 Phone: (03) 5345 2856
A superb pottery gallery located in a natural bush setting, specialising in Australian ceramics, Ashware, antiques, jewellery, fine art and the famous Springmount Pottery range.

Ballarat

Ballarat
Kryal Castle, Forbes Rd, WARRENHEIP 3351, Phone: (03) 53 347388, Fax: (03) 5334 7422.
Step back into medieval history at Kryal Castle. Featuring live re-enactments daily, The Magic Theatre, arms and armour, glass craftsman, art gallery, Heraldry, royal photographer, maze, Comical cemetery, and extensive historic displays, licensed tavern, eatery and all facilities.

Tarra Bulga National Park

Just north-west of Yarram is the famous Tarra Bulga National Park.
It takes its name partly from the Aborigine Charlie Tarra who accompanied explorer Paul Edmund de Strzelecki through the area in 1840. Strzelecki´s party would have perished if not for the hunting skills of Tarra.
The park is the veritable jewel in the crown of what the locals call Tarra Territory". The park is comprised of two sections - Tarra and Bulga. These lush areas of rainforest are all that remain of a great forest of trees which at one time covered all of Gippsland. Noted for their towering mountain ash and thick cover of ferns, both sections of the park are linked by the Grand Ridge Road.
The Park has plenty of walking tracks, a picnic area and a host of wildlife, including the remarkable lyrebird.

BENDIGO

BENDIGO
The huge amount of gold discovered at Bendigo has also left an extravagant mark, making it the most splendid mid-19th century Victorian city in Australia. When you drive through the main street of Bendigo you´ll be struck by the city´s obvious pride. Flamboyant in appearance, the journey down its side streets unveils even more remarkable buildings - baroque mansions, gothic cathedrals and Georgian-style homes.

STAWELL

STAWELL
Stawell was founded on gold in 1853 when William McLachlan, a shepherd on Dr. John Blundell´s station found gold there. Gold mining ceased in 1920 when the Union Quartz Mining Company closed. However in 1984 the Stawell Joint Venture re-opened the mines around Stawell and are part of Australian Goldmines. You can visit the mines and view the massive trucks and excavators.
The town is noted for the Stawell Easter Gift foot race, the richest event of its kind in the world. The first meeting was in 1877. At the Hall of Fame Museum you can see the photographs, memorabilia and equipment which highlight the history of this famous sports meeting.
Just south of Stawell is Bunjil´s Shelter, one of Victoria´s most important Koorie art sites.

Ballarat Vintage Tramway and Museum

Ballarat Vintage Tramway and Museum, South Garden Reserve, BALLARAT 3350,
Phone: (03) 53 341580.

YACKANDANDAH

YACKANDANDAH
In the heart of the beautiful North East, where cattle graze in the lush valleys of the Kiewa River and its tributaries and trout abound in crystal clear streams. Cold! That was the catch cry that first attracted people to our majestic valleys. Take a 4wd adventure into the many goldfields with history dating back to the 1850´s, see the relics of a bygone era come to life before your eyes. Step into the folds of the nearby ranges, into a world where bushwalking, fossicking, horseriding , native birds and animals in abundance attract those with a love of our unique country.
Wander along the main street of Yackandandah with its old shopfronts. beautiful trees and old village atmosphere. where you will find quality crafts. souvenirs and meals to tempt your tastebuds and country hospitality you did not dream still existed in this day and age. Stay in cosy country pubs, where you can quench your thirst on warm sunfilled days. Or maybe you prefer a friendly bed and breakfast or a hostfarm experience. Our caravan parks are the best you´ll find. Take your choice of easy excursions around the region - snowfields, water-skiing. wineries architecture, breathtaking scenic drives. Come and see for yourselves the beauty we have to offer you, where the gold remains. in the fiery colours of autumn in the warm summer sun. Turn your back on the 1990´s, step into the peace and tranquillity of the historic shire of Yackandandah