Railway Hotel by Mattinbgn

Dunolly Vic 3472 (Pop 980)

Dunolly is a Victorian Goldfields service centre located 190 km n-w of Melbourne. Formerly an important goldmining town unearthing 126 nuggets, the surrounding area - The Golden Triangle - produced Australia’s greatest number of nuggets. Original inhabitants were the Wemba-Wemba Aborigines with pastoral settlers arriving in 1840s. Dunolly is named after a Scottish castle. Agriculture & tourism are now the economy’s mainstays. Dunolly markets 3^rd Sat each month. Dunolly Goldrush Festival (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Historic Dunolly includes the Railway Hotel (1858), original lock-up (1859), St John’s Church (1866), St Mary’s Church (1869), Old Post Office & Telegraph Office (1872). Goldfields Historical & Arts Museum, Broadway (1862) documents the area’s fascinating goldmining history with interesting displays and a replica of the 66 kg gold nugget (the Welcome Stranger) found in 1869.

Nearby:
Laanecoorie Reservoir (16 km east) (1889) former early water reservoir now used for watersports, camping & bushwalking. Bealiba (21 km n-w) fascinating former goldmining town with a number of historic buildings & monthly markets. Moliagul (15 km n-w) famed as the place where the huge ‘Welcome Stranger’ gold nugget was discovered (1869) and birthplace of Rev John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Tarnagulla (16 km n-e) small goldmining town with some magnificent Victorian buildings and a nearby flora reserve.

Accommodation:
Dunolly has a motel, hotel and caravan park. Visitor Information Centre: 109 Broadway. Tel (03) 5468 1205.