Stawell Vic 3380 (Pop 6 300)

Stawell is an important rural service centre famous for the Stawell Gift, Australia’s richest footrace. This former and again current goldmining town is located 237 km n-w of Melbourne in the Grampians region. The Mukjarawaint Aborigines were original inhabitants with European settlement beginning in 1840s. A major gold discovery (1853) saw the township boom however as the gold declined, other industries such as a brickworks, abattoir & tourism were established. Goldmining resumed in 1981. Stawell markets 1st Sun each month. Stawell Easter Gift (Easter), Stawell Hot Air Balloon Festival (June), Agricultural Show (Oct).

 Tourist Attractions & Info:
Pleasant Creek Courthouse Museum, Western Hwy housed in the old Courthouse (1860) with interesting historic photographs & displays of 19^th century costumes, goldmining memorabilia and documents. Open (2pm-4pm) Sun. Central Park and Hall of Fame, Lower Main St. Central Park is where this race, formed by locals in 1878 to promote sport has been run almost continuously. Today it is one of the world’s most prestigious and richest professional foot races. The Hall of Fame was established to display the countless photographs, memorabilia & equipment relating to the race’s history. Open (10am-4pm) Wed-Sun. Historic Stawell includes the old Anglican Vicarage (1863) (Seaby St), Stawell Common School (1865), Diamond House (1866), 9 Seaby St house (1870), Baptist Church (1870). Holy Trinity Church of England (1872), Town Hall (1872), Catholic Church (1873), St Peter’s Lutheran Church (1874), the railway station (1877), 10 Seaby St house (1890). Big Hill Area, Big Hill Rd leads to Pioneers’ Monument and lookout of town and famous goldmines. Stawell Ironbark Forest, off Newington Rd with beautiful orchid & wildflower displays.

Nearby:
Sisters Rocks (3 km s-e) gigantic granite tors named after early settlers, the Levi sisters. Bunjil's Shelter (11 km south) this Black Range cave is considered to contain Victoria’s most important Aboriginal rock art with nearby oven mounds and tool quarries thousands of years old. Lakes include Lake Lonsdale (12 km n-w) for watersports, fishing and bush camping. Lake Fyans (17 km s-w) with sandy beaches, good fishing and boating. Deep Lead Reserve (6 km n-w) beautiful flora and fauna but no facilities. Dadswells Bridge (27 km n-w) small village which is home to the ‘Giant Koala’ a 14 m high bronze sculpture created in 1988.

Accommodation:
Stawell has 8 motels, 5 hotels, several holiday apartments/cabins/cottages, 4 B&Bs and two caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: 50 Western Hwy. Tel (03) 5358 2314 or 1800 330 080.