We Explored The Victorian Goldfields

In July of 2023 year we explored the Victorian Goldfields region associated with the 1850’s Victorian gold rush.

Many towns were established during the gold rush and extensive remnants of the rush remain throughout the area today. The Victorian Goldfields lie roughly between Ballarat, Rushworth, Wedderburn and Stawell.

VIC Goldfields Trip Itinerary

We visited many iconic locations on this epic 2 week road trip. Towns we will visit include Clunes, Ballarat, Bendigo, Rushworth, Whroo, Maryborough, Maldon, Castlemaine, Moliagul, Dunolly, Daylesford, Avoca, Ararat, Steiglitz, Blackwood, El Dorado, Wangaratta and many more. It’s going to be an awesome trip.

We based ourselves in Clunes for two weeks and did day trips from there. Clunes was the site of Victoria’s first gold strike in 1851 which led to a gold rush which swept through central Victoria. This resulted in a massive population boost for the state and great wealth for many. Many large gold strikes were found in the area known as “The Golden Triangle”. Clunes was the first! These days Clunes is an agricultural powerhouse. The historic township of Clunes is now popular as a tourist location as well as a popular film and tv location. The bikie scene in the first Mad Max movie was filmed in Clunes. Heather Ewart visited Clunes for an episode of Backroads in 2020.

We explored many historic mines throughout the Victorian Goldfields, including North British Mine and Quartz Kilns, Maldon – Red, White and Blue Mine, Muckleford – Battery Dam, Daisy Hill – Grand Duke Mine, Timor – Tunnel Hill, Talbot – Beehive Mine, Maldon – Forest Creek Historic Gold Diggings, Castlemaine – Union Jack Mine, Percydale and the Duke of Cornwall Engine House, Fryerstown.

We took our new gold detector with us and gave it a go. We didn’t find anything but you definitely won’t find anything if you don’t try.

Ellis The Drapers Steiglitz Built In 1850s