Mansfield Main Street

Mansfield Vic 3722 (Pop 2 800)
Pic: by Mattinbgn

Mansfield is a pretty High County service town 217 km n-e of Melbourne. It is ideally located near Lake Eildon and the Alpine NP to act as a winter base for both Mount Buller and Mt Stirling offering good accommodation, restaurants, ski equipment hire etc facilities. Originally inhabited by the Youngillim Aborigines, white settlement began in 1840s as a commercial centre for the numerous nearby goldmining sites followed by grazing, farming and timbergetting. Australia’s infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly, worked here as a timbercutter in 1874. Harvest Festival (Mar), Mansfield Balloon Festival (Mar), Mountain Country Festival (Nov), Agricultural Show (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Troopers’ Monument, cnr High St & Midland Hwy stands as a tribute to the three police killed by Ned Kelly in 1878 who are buried in the nearby cemetery.

Nearby:
Lake Nillahcootie (20 km n-w) excellent sailing, fishing and canoeing. Goughs Bay (20 km south) sits on Lake Eildon and is popular for watersports, boating, fishing and camping. Mt Samaria State Park (14 km north) scenic 7 600 ha park of native forests, waterfalls, abundant wildlife and birdlife, bushwalks and camping. Mount Buller (47 km east) state’s largest and best ski resort with 180 ha of ski trails, 25 lifts, accommodation and many other visitor facilities. Jamieson (37 km south) interesting, historic goldmining town on the Jamieson River. Alpine NP (40 km s-e). Mt Skene (85 km s-e) excellent bushwalking and spring wildflowers. Fishing popular in Jamieson, Goulburn, Howqua and Delatite Rivers.

Accommodation:
Mansfield has 2 motels, 4 hotels, two resorts, half a dozen B&Bs, many holiday apartments/cottages, a backpackers and 3 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Old Railway Station, Maroondah Hwy. Tel (03) 5775 1464 or 1800 039 049.