The historic Victorian gold mining town of Creswick. Cradled between ancient volcanic hilltops, this picturesque town boasts a resident population of more than 3,000 people.
Set amongst majestic eucalypts, Creswick’s broad, elegantly curved main street is studded with buildings that owe their existence to the region’s common benefactor – gold.
Creswick lies at the heart of the central goldfields, just 16kms north of Ballarat and neighbouring the iconic tourism regions of Clunes, Daylesford, the Hepburn spa country, and the Macedon Ranges.
The historic Victorian gold mining town of Creswick. Cradled between ancient volcanic hilltops, this pictursque town boasts a resident population of more than 3,000 people.
Set amongst majestic eucalypts, Creswick’s broad, elegantly curved main street is studded with buildings that owe their existence to the region’s common benefactor – gold.
Creswick lies at the heart of the central goldfields, just 16kms north of Ballarat and neighbouring the iconic tourism regions of Clunes, Daylesford, the Hepburn spa country, and the Macedon Ranges.
A short distance north of Ballarat on the Midland Highway is Creswick. This town is very stately in looks and history, having housed the miner’s union that were the catalyst for the Eureka Stockade way back in the 1850s.
Picturesque Creswick has a rich heritage and has produced some of Australia’s most influential bureaucrats, politicians and business people.
In 1885 the country’s 14th Prime Minister, John Curtin, was born in the town and called it home for some years. So did the multi-talented Lindsay family, with artist Norman Lindsay perhaps the most famous of Creswick’s artistic sons.
Creswick was also the birthplace of the first union-led push to improve working conditions in Victorian mines at a time when its Madam Berry Mine was once thought to have been the richest goldmine in Victoria.
Because of its interesting streetscapes, Creswick has become a popular film and television location, seen to great advantage in the recent movie “Salem’s Lot” starring Rob Lowe and Donald Sutherland. This filming coup was part of a strong push from Council to promote the region as a major film destination.
Built on the proceeds of rich gold deposits mined from the 1850′s, Creswick today proudly displays fine examples of the grand architecture so reminiscent of the era. A stroll down the main street will reveal a number of historic buildings including the former State Savings Bank, Post Office, Library, and Havilah Masonic Lodge.
Far from being ‘just’ a mining town, Creswick is the Australian birthplace of reforestation. John La Gerche began re-planting forest areas ravaged by mining activity in 1882. Today, much of La Gerche’s work survives around Creswick including magnificent plantings lining local streets.
Picturesque Creswick has a rich heritage and has produced some of Australia’s most influential bureaucrats, politicians and business people. In 1885 the country’s 14th Prime Minister, John Curtin, was born in the town and called it home for some years. So did the multi-talented Lindsay Family, with artist Norman Lindsay perhaps the most famous of Creswick’s artistic sons. An exhibition of Lindsay paintings is frequently on display at the Creswick Museum along with paintings from other artists such as Victor Litherland. The museum’s most important collection of artworks is the Colonial Art Collection of artworks relating to Creswick’s past, which is always on display.
Wander amongst the historic buildings of the old gold mining town of Creswick. There are lots of fun and interesting things to do in and around Creswick. It’s a great town to visit.
