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Victoria (Melbourne Region) |
| Stawell | |
| Stawell
was founded on gold in 1853 when William McLachlan, a shepherd on Dr. John
Blundell's station found gold there. Gold mining ceased in 1920 when the
Union Quartz Mining Company closed. However in 1984 the Stawell Joint
Venture re-opened the mines around Stawell and are part of Australian
Goldmines. You can visit the mines and view the massive trucks and
excavators.
STAWELL is most famous for the Stawell Gift, a foot race offering big prize money that has been held here every Easter since 1877. It’s also the closest major town to the Grampians and the departure point for the bus to Halls Gap. |
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the Hall of Fame Museum you can see the photographs, memorabilia and
equipment which highlight the history of this famous sports meeting.
Just south of Stawell is Bunjil's Shelter, one of Victoria's most important Koorie art sites. The helpful Grampians Information Centre is at 52 Western Highway (free tel 1800/246 880); the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame on Main Street (June–Sept Mon–Fri 9–11am; Oct–May Mon–Fri 10am–4pm; $2) charts the history of the race itself. The town, with its winding main street, has a pleasant, old-fashioned feel, and it’s a much less expensive place to stay than Halls Gap. The many motels along the highway all charge much the same for similar facilities. More expensive B&Bs and a caravan park are the only real alternatives: Clovelly House at 7 Clifton Ave; and the Stawell Grampians Gate Caravan Park on Burgh Street, the closest camping area to town. Events |
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