Sights in Goldfields
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A
Old Post Office
The Old Post Office built in 1870, was the childhood home of Henry Handel Richardson. She (yes, she!) writes about it in her autobiography, Myself When Young (1950).
reviewed
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B
Golden Dragon Museum & Chinese Gardens
Bendigo’s proud Chinese heritage can be explored at the wonderful Golden Dragon Museum & Chinese Gardens. Two enormous processional dragons, Old Loong (the world’s oldest) and Sun Loong (the world’s longest), reside here. Old Loong arrived in 1892 for the annual Bendigo Easter Festival, and Sun Loong took over in 1970 when Old Loong retired. The museum traces the involvement of the Chinese community in the development of Bendigo. Across the road are the pretty ornamental Chinese gardens and there’s a tearoom serving light meals and yum cha.
reviewed
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C
Rosalind Park
In the city centre, this lovely green space has lawns, big old trees, fernery and the fabulous Cascades Fountain, which was excavated after being buried for 120 years. Climb to the top of the lookout tower for sensational 360-degree views or wander through the Conservatory Gardens.
reviewed
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D
Castlemaine Botanic Gardens
Enjoy a stroll in the gardens, just north of the town centre; it's one of the oldest and best in regional Victoria.
reviewed
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Bendigo Pottery
Australia's oldest pottery works, the Bendigo Pottery was founded in 1857 and is classified by the National Trust. The historic kilns are still used; watch potters at work, admire the gorgeous ceramic pieces or throw a pot yourself (half-/full day $12/18). The attached museum (adult/child $8/4) tells the story of pottery through the ages. It's 7km northeast of the centre.
reviewed
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E
Bendigo Art Gallery
One of Victoria's finest regional galleries, the permanent collection here includes outstanding colonial and contemporary Australian art, such as work by Charles Blackman, Fred Williams, Rupert Bunny and Lloyd Rees; the annual temporary exhibitions are cutting edge. The Gallery Café overlooks Rosalind Park.
reviewed
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Maryborough Railway Station
Maryborough’s main attraction is the magnificent 1892 Maryborough Railway Station, which Mark Twain once described as ‘a train station with a town attached’. Passenger trains don’t stop any more, but the building houses an excellent antiques and fine-art emporium, gallery, wine centre and cafe.
reviewed
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Talbot Observatory
Arrive in quaint, quiet Talbot at night and visit the Talbot Observatory. You’ll not only see the rings of Saturn and learn about Brown Dwarfs, but you can also join in a ‘star-b-que’. Ring to inquire or to arrange your own times.
reviewed
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F
Sacred Heart Cathedral
You can't miss the soaring steeple of this wonderful cathedral. Inside, beneath the high vaulted ceiling, there's a magnificently carved bishop's chair, some beautiful stained-glass windows, and wooden angels jutting out of the ceiling arches.
reviewed
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Confectionery Capers
It’s fun, fun, fun at Confectionery Capers. No lollies here (8km southeast of town), just an amazing display of whirls, whizzes and word plays: Barbie dolls in a line? A tree in a toilet? You have to go there for it all to make sense…
reviewed
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Tangled Maze
Lose yourself amidst climbing plants and delightful perfumed pathways at the botanical Tangled Maze. There’s 18 holes of minigolf in its landscaped setting between the café, bocce green, nursery and mystery maze puzzles.
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Goldfields Historical Museum
The world’s largest alluvial nugget, the 72kg Welcome Stranger, was found in Moliagul in 1869 by John Deason and Richard Oates, who hid it for two days before concealing it in a wagon and taking it to DunollyGoldfields Historical Museum.
reviewed
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Lavandula
Just north of Hepburn Springs, Lavandula is a Swiss-Italian farm and stone cottage where you can meet the farm animals, check out the gardens and produce, wander between lavender bushes and enjoy lunch in the Ticinese grotto.
reviewed
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G
Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum
The impressive museum, in a superb art-deco building, has a collection of colonial and contemporary Australian art including works by Frederick McCubbin and Tom Roberts; downstairs is a local history museum.
reviewed
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Forest Creek Historic Gold Diggings
Forest Creek Historic Gold Diggings is a section of an 1850s diggings. Take a self-guided tour and pan in the old sluicing dam (just in case you think the old-timers left anything behind).
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Goldfields Historic Chinese Cemetery
The Goldfields Historic Chinese Cemetery is the oldest and most significant of its kind in Australia, with a prayer oven where paper money for the spirits of the dead was burnt.
reviewed
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H
Old Castlemaine Gaol
The last prisoners moved out of the imposing Old Castlemaine Gaol in 1990. Today you can take a guided tour of the old cells, gallows and watchtowers, and there’s a small cafe.
reviewed
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I
Buda
Dating from 1861, Buda was home to a Hungarian silversmith and his descendants for 120 years. The family's art and craft collections and personal belongings are on display.
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Whitburgh Cottage
In Kilmore, Whitburgh Cottage was built in 1857. This simple and solid bluestone cottage, with twin-peaked slate roof, has been preserved as an historic museum.
reviewed
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White Hills Botanic Gardens
Just 2km north of town, the gardens feature many exotic and rare plant species, a small fauna park, aviary, and barbecue facilities.
reviewed
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J
Penny School Gallery & Café
South of town, the excellent Penny School Gallery & Café features changing exhibitions by well-known Australian artists, and a good cafe.
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K
Historical Museum
Behind the visitor centre, the historical museum, in the 19th-century market building, displays local artefacts and mining memorabilia.
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L
Discovery Science & Technology Centre
The huge Discovery Science & Technology Centre has a wide range of interesting and educational exhibits, including a planetarium.
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M
Chinese Joss House
Painted red, the traditional colour for strength, this is the only remaining practising joss house in central Victoria. It's 2km northwest of the centre.
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Old Post Office & Museum
In Kilmore the Old Post Office & Museum will soon house a café, and the old mill sells antiques and coffee.
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