Located only 120 kilometres from Melbourne,
Castlemaine offers a wonderful weekend refuge from the rat race.
The
history of this town dates back to 1851, when the discovery of gold attracted an enormous rush of diggers hungry to make their fortunes.
Although long removed from its glory days, charming Castlemaine is nevertheless a lovely place in which to take a contemplative stroll, its impressive Georgian architecture imbuing it with an unmistakable air of history. These
photos prove the point.
Of all the
attractions, the most noteworthy is the
Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, whose mining relics, pockmarked terrain and interpretive signs make it incredibly evocative. Walk around, close your eyes, use your imagination...and you should be able to visualise thousands of men, feverishly working their little patches of dirt and dreaming of striking it rich.
Other sites worth visiting include the
art gallery & museum, the
old gaol, the
botanical gardens and
Buda historic house.
Importantly, none of these stops take much time or effort, allowing you to get on with the most important part of your getaway – the relaxing.
For further information, click on these links:
Accommodation
Events
Planning your trip
