By Oscar Parry
The federal government has approved a bid for the Victorian Goldfields to seek World Heritage Listing, involving the Macedon Ranges region.
Macedon Ranges council said the bid and the inclusion of the goldfields on Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List follows 15 years of advocacy from Victorian councils, traditional owners, the state and federal governments, and local and international experts.
“Tentative Listing recognises the Victorian Goldfields’ potential outstanding global heritage significance and seeks to celebrate and protect the region’s multi-layered history – from the First Peoples living on Country to the goldrush and subsequent waves of immigration,” the council said.
Secretary of the Kyneton Historical Society and Macedon Ranges Heritage Council Larina Strauch said one of the towns involved in the region’s history is Kyneton, which is considered to be the “gateway to the Goldfields”.
“In March 1852, Kyneton was virtually just a little village – it had a population of about 300 people … most of those were employed on squatting runs [and] there was very little in Kyneton at that time,” Ms Strauch said.
“Towards the end of that year, the population exploded to over 2000 people, which was coming hot off the back of the so-called gold rushes … because they realised they could make more money by selling their goods to the passing throng that were heading north to the Goldfields.”
Ms Strauch said Kyneton was renowned in the gold rush, including among miners who travelled from California, as a significant stopover point.
Ms Strauch said factors contributing to this reputation included the legalisation of liquor sales in town, the popularity of the former Kyneton Hotel on Piper Street, and its entertainment venues.
She said that these attractions and the sale of goods to miners passing through the town enabled a property boom, which is why buildings on Piper Street are marked with years like 1858 or 1862.
Details: goldfieldsworldheritage.com.au
