Victoria (Eastern Region)

Benalla
BENALLA, 45km northeast of Euroa on the Hume Highway, is a rather civilized town on the lake of the same name, formed by the Broken River which runs through town and occasionally floods it. The helpful tourist information centre, 14 Mair St (daily 10am–5pm), has lots of pamphlets and information on the region. It’s a pleasant enough place to stop, with a self-service tearoom, craft shop and views overlooking Lake Benalla. 
The Costume and Pioneer Museum ($2), in the same building, displays a collection of women’s dresses from the 1930s but more fittingly has a range of Ned Kelly relics, including the green silk cummerbund he was awarded as a child for saving a friend from drowning, and which he proudly wore when captured. The Benalla Art Gallery, in a lovely setting across the lake (daily 10am–5pm; $3), has a fine collection of early twentieth-century and contemporary Australian art. The Benalla Art Gallery is situated in one of the most delightful locations of any regional art gallery in Australia. The visually striking building stands on the edge of Lake Benalla within the Botanical Gardens. The Gallery houses a fine collection of Australian paintings ranging from early 19th Century works to those more recent and contemporary. Bridge Street, Benalla Open 10.00am - 5.00pm daily

The town is a major centre for gliding and ballooning; call the Gliding Club of Victoria (tel 03/5762 1058) or Balloon Flights Victoria (tel 03/5798 5417) to find out about flights. For something to eat, try Hides Bakery at 111 Bridge St, which prepares excellent vegetarian pies, salads and sandwiches; or the Toast Office at 3 Bridge St.

Events

  • ROSE FESTIVAL (Novmeber) The annual rose festival showcases many varieties some unique to Benalla.