Clunes Town Hall

Clunes Vic 3370 (Pop 1 700)

Clunes is a beautifully preserved historic goldmining town located in the Central Goldfields 148 km n-w of Melbourne. It is the site of Victoria’s first gold strike (1851) and surrounded by several extinct volcanoes. Original inhabitants were the Wemba-Wemba Aborigines with white pastoral settlement beginning in 1839. Clunes was named after a town in Scotland and goldmining continued until 1900. Gold Festival (Mar), Agricultural Show (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Historic Clunes includes St Andrew’s Church (1861), National Hotel (1862), Club Hotel (1870), St Paul’s Church (1871), Courthouse (1872), Town Hall (1872), St Thomas Aquinas Church (1873). Clunes Museum, Fraser St housed in an old warehouse (c.1868) and contains fascinating goldmining era historic displays and memorabilia. Open weekends/school & public holidays. Bottle Museum and Tourist Information, Bailey St one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest collections and located in the old schoolhouse (1870s) with the Visitor Centre. Queens Park sits on Creswick Creek and dates back to 1870s. Creek Walk follows Creswick Creek (look for platypus), through Victoria Park, the lookout (extinct volcanoes), Port Phillip mine site and the original goldfind site (see marker).

Nearby:
Mt Beckworth State Park (8 km west) noted for its prolific birdlife, spring wildflowers, rock climbing, bush walks and hideout of famous bushranger,‘Capt Moonlite’. Wineries. Several well established wineries in the area. Talbot (18 km n-w) charming historic town with many 1860s & 70s buildings of note. A good local produce market held 3^rd Sun each month.

Accommodation:
Clunes has a motel, 2 hotels, a B&B and a caravan park. Visitor Information Centre: Old School Complex, 70 Bailey St. Tel (03) 5345 3896.