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Goldfields (Victoria)

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Region of Victoria, Australia For historical information, see Victorian gold rush.

Nerrena fossickers in Nerrena Creek outside Ballarat

The Goldfields region of Victoria is a region commonly used but typically defined in both historical geography and tourism geography (in particular heritage tourism). The region is also known as the Victorian Golden Triangle.

Description

Aerial panorama of Blue Waters lake in Creswick

It takes in a specific area of North Central Victoria, the major cities of Ballarat and Bendigo as well as smaller centres including Daylesford, Castlemaine and Maryborough. It extends as far north as Inglewood and St Arnaud. It encroaches on the Western District near Ararat. Other significant towns include Maldon, Creswick, Clunes, Avoca and Buninyong.

Although the region has a strong association with the Victorian gold rush there are, however, significant towns associated with the gold rush and gold mining located outside of this region - notable examples include Warburton, Walhalla, Warrandyte, Chiltern and Beechworth. The goldfields region is more strongly linked to the impact of the Victorian Gold Rush than the discovery of gold in Victoria.

As a result of the gold rush, the region contains many old buildings, including celebrated examples of Victorian architecture, some of which are heritage listed, while others have fallen into disrepair and become derelict. Many of the towns were far larger during the Gold Rush than they are now, and there are some examples of ghost towns in the region. Major tourism icons include Sovereign Hill, Eureka Stockade site and the Bendigo Talking Tram. The region is also associated with the origins of Australian rules football; Tom Wills, one of the game's founders, grew up outside present-day Moyston, the self-proclaimed "Birthplace of Australian Football". Some of the earliest clubs were also established in the region.

Aerial perspective of St Georges Lake in Creswick. Shot in September 2018.

Demographically, the population of the region was approximately 244,900 in 2006. The region has a well-defined road tourist route. The area retains a significant gold mining industry and remains a popular for fossicking.

The Goldfields region is also associated as a wine growing region with a large number of established vineyards and popular wineries. An important ecosystem associated with the region is the Box-Ironbark forest, now much fragmented and cleared but still important for the conservation of many birds and other animals.

See also

Gallery

  • Corner Sturt and Lydiard Streets, Ballarat Corner Sturt and Lydiard Streets, Ballarat
  • Pall Mall, Bendigo, with Talking Tram Pall Mall, Bendigo, with Talking Tram
  • Sovereign Hill open-air museum, a large tourist attraction in Ballarat Sovereign Hill open-air museum, a large tourist attraction in Ballarat
  • Maldon's famous historic streetscapes Maldon's famous historic streetscapes
  • Sluicing in the Lerderderg Gorge, between Blackwood and Bacchus Marsh Sluicing in the Lerderderg Gorge, between Blackwood and Bacchus Marsh
  • Bendigo diggings gold mine in c.1857 - Bendigo, Victoria, Australia Bendigo diggings gold mine in c.1857 - Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
  • Richard Daintree and Antoine Fauchery (circa 1858) A gang of diggers at Forrest Creek, Chewton Richard Daintree and Antoine Fauchery (circa 1858) A gang of diggers at Forrest Creek, Chewton
  • Richard Daintree, Castlemaine gold diggings on 15 January 1858, Forrest Creek Richard Daintree, Castlemaine gold diggings on 15 January 1858, Forrest Creek
  • Daintree, Richard, (1858) Great Eastern Tunnel, 1500 feet long, Jim Crow diggings, Daylesford Daintree, Richard, (1858) Great Eastern Tunnel, 1500 feet long, Jim Crow diggings, Daylesford
  • Richard Daintree (c.1858) Chinese gold mining encampment at Guildford Richard Daintree (c.1858) Chinese gold mining encampment at Guildford

References

  1. "Goldfields of Victoria". Goldfields Tourism Incorporated. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  2. "Places to Find Gold in Victoria's Golden Triangle". Goldfields Guide .com.au. 23 June 2020.
  3. Victorian Population Bulletin 2006, Dept. of Sustainability & Environment

External links

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