Clunes Background History

The Discovery of Gold at Clunes

Until 1851, Clunes enjoyed peaceful aboriginal and pastoral occupation. A Scot, Donald Cameron, had his homestead in the Clunes valley and the existence of gold was soon suspected. On 7 July 1851 James Esmond announced payable gold at Clunes the earliest such announcement in Victoria. A small rush ensued but little or no permanent development occurred until 1856 when the London based Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company negotiated an agreement to mine on the privately owned Clunes pre-emptive right (part of Cameron's original pastoral run). The gold was primarily found in quartz reefs, requiring considerable capital and many miners working co-operatively. The Port Phillip Company erected a large stamping battery and pioneered many innovations in company mining. Relatively few companies worked the reefs although small parties continued to operate, especially under the Cornish `tribute' system, where miners were paid an agreed percentage on the gold won.

Clunes - Victoria's first gold town

Commercial development commenced in `Lower' Fraser Street although by the late 1860s, when mining prosperity peaked, business houses in the central section of Fraser Street were rebuilt and development consolidated. Residential development stayed close to the mines initially (especially on Camp Hill and at North Clunes) but soon spread to South Clunes. Like business premises, residences were often enlarged and Clunes retains many examples of tiny cottages which have been enveloped by later extensions.

Impressive institutional buildings began to be erected in the 1860s and 70s, culminating in the grandiose Town Hall (1872-73) and urbane Post and Telegraph Office (1878-79). Of the churches, the Wesleyans had the largest congregation (boosted by the many Cornish miners in Clunes) and this is clearly demonstrated by their church in Service Street. By contrast, churches of other denominations were either closed and reused or their toothed stonework left incomplete.

The landscape character of Clunes changed radically in the period 1880-1930. The bare hills of the 1860s and 70s gave rise to an impressive tree planting programme-both public and private especially in Queens Park and along Creswicks Creek. Within a generation, the ravages of mining gave way to the treed character we observe today. Mining ceased in the mid 1890s and miners drifted to other goldfields, such as Kalgoorlie.

Several secondary industries were established at Clunes during the twentieth century following collapse of the gold mining industry locally. Knitting factories reused earlier buildings and several factories were erected along the creek. Walking paths now lead along the banks of Creswick's Creek and a fine view of the town can be obtained from `the Rocks' on the Scenic Road.