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Victoria (Western Region) |
| Maldon | |
| The township of Maldon was christened The Best Preserved Town in Australia of the Gold Mining Era' by the National Trust because of its authenticity and its preservation is encouraged. Cottage gardens, pavements overhung by verandahs and old mining structures are the essence of Maldon. The place really comes to life on weekends with horse-drawn rides around town and steam train rides over a section of restored track. | |
| MALDON,
closely surrounded by low hills, is a tiny, peaceful town of tearooms,
antique shops and B&Bs. In 1965 the National Trust declared it the
best-preserved gold-era settlement in Victoria. Gold was found here in
1853 and the rich, deep alluvial reefs were mined until 1926, almost
rivalling Bendigo for longevity. As you come into town you’ll see
dilapidated old farmhouses and be greeted by dogs that sit in the middle
of the road scratching their heads for want of anything better to do. The
main shopping street largely preserves its original appearance, with
single-storey shopfronts shaded by awnings and decorated with iron-lace
work. It’s a popular weekend getaway where you can simply relax and
unwind.
It’s best to come here in your own vehicle, as public transport from Melbourne operates only on weekdays, and to a very limited timetable; take a train from Melbourne (Mon–Fri 8.35am & 3.50pm) to Castlemaine where you catch the connecting Castlemaine Bus Lines service (tel 03/5472 1455) to Maldon. Return buses leave from Maldon post office to connect with trains back to Melbourne (Mon–Fri 6.35am & 9am). On Sundays and holidays you can take a ride on a tourist steam train from Maldon to Castlemaine (hourly 1–4pm, though not on days of total fire ban; $8). Apart from the town’s architecture, there are a few other points of interest: the Maldon Museum, in the Old Shire Hall on High Street (daily 1.30–4pm; $2), is a typical pioneer memorabilia museum, and you can also take an underground tour at Carman’s Tunnel Goldmine, off Parkin’s Reef Road, 3km south of town (Sat, Sun, school & public holidays every 30min 1.30–4pm; 30min; $4). To find out about other activities, check with the visitor centre in front of the museum (daily 10am–4pm; tel 03/5475 2569). An excellent place to stay, if you’re hankering for a little luxury, is The Barn, at 242 Barker St, which offers self-catering amongst whitewashed stone walls, an open fire and French windows. Heritage Cottages, 25 Adair St, has a selection of historical cottages, most with period furnishings and open fires. In a garden setting just out of town is the Lemonwood Cottage B&B, Bells Reef Road, a pretty two-bedroom stone cottage with brass beds and an open fireplace. In a town where there are a lot of tearooms, the best value is Berryman’s, at 30 Main St. McArthur’s, further up at no. 45, has a very pleasant courtyard. Two other good tearooms are the Cumquat Tree, at no. 24, and the Maldon Cafe, at no. 52. |
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