The region around Daylesford, including the Macedon and Loddon Ranges have a rich and interesting history.
From here, you can visit Gisborne, Woodend, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Trentham, Hanging Rock, Clunes and so many other historic towns.
There is much to take in and the natural beauty of our area is breath-taking.
Stroll the streets of Daylesford, wander around the lake, browse the art galleries and enjoy the local gastronomic delights of food and wine.
We offer some local history and information for you here. See the right hand side menu for local festivals and events.
Daylesford and District Historical Society (founded 1961) is housed at the Daylesford Museum. The Society’s primary aim is to collect, preserve, maintain and communicate the history of Daylesford and District.
A History of the Gisborne and Mount Macedon Districts is documented by the Mount Macedon Historical Society and makes excellent reading. In Gisborne, interested residents also formed the Gisborne Historical Society in the 1970’s.
Mount Macedon forms the southern end of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range. Rising to 1000 metres, it is the most prominent feature of the Macedon Ranges.
It was named Mount Macedon on September 30th 1836 by Major Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor General of New South Wales who ascended it and wrote in his diary, “from the top of the mountain, Port Phillip Bay and a few of the buildings of Melbourne can be seen”. Major Mitchell also noted the “high quality and size of the timber on the side of the mountain.”
When gold was discovered in the 1850’s at Forest Creek, later known as Castlemaine and at Sandhurst, later named Bendigo, a village sprang up at Middle Gully, now known as Macedon.Middle Gully provided inns, beer houses, coffee tents, blacksmiths’ forges and stores, to supply the needs of the weary travellers heading north to try their luck at the gold fields.
The redevelopment of the reserves at Stanley Park Waterfall, Sanatorium Lake and the Memorial Cross at Mount Macedon gives an opportunity for both recreation and adventure. Picnic reserves, walking trails, rock climbing and the proximity to the mysterious Hanging Rock, make the area attractive to young and old alike.
In spring and autumn, many visitors flock to the area to enjoy the glorious private gardens and floral displays that are regularly open to the public, while monthly local markets at Gisborne and Woodend are always well attended by both locals and visitors alike.
Today the local communities strive to preserve the “pure mountain air” that brought so many of our early settlers to this beautiful Gisborne and Mount Macedon district, while at the same time sharing with visitors, the area’s tranquillity and ever-changing beauty.
Many historical societies have archives, photos and documents detailing the history and development of the region and these links are listed here.
