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CLUNES TOWNSHIP
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Town Hall
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Nestling in a picturesque valley, a 25 minutes drive north of
Ballarat, is Clunes, Victoria's First Gold Town. Clunes was the site of
the first official gold discovery in Victoria, made by James Esmoud on July 1st.
1851. Esmoud's discovery triggered Victoria's world famous gold rushes.
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Clunes remains one of the most original and intact gold
towns in Australia and there are over 50 buildings of historical
significance. Many reflect the opulence and confidence of the boom period of the
1850s. The Town Hall & Court House, the Churches, the several old bank
buildings and the verandahed shops in the central part of the town provide the
basis of a living museum.
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Fraser Street |
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Photo Margaret Finnegan |
Today, Clunes has a population of only 850 but it has
recently undergone a major transformation and resurgence following the decision
by Wesley College, Australia's largest co-educational private school, to
establish a campus for Year 9 students. Each term, over 100 Wesley students take
up residency in the 'Wesley Village', located in the town centre, and become
part of the local community.
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Clunes has also been used as a film location site for such
movies as 'Mad Max', the remake of the 1950s classic 'On the Beach' and recent
ABC television series 'Queen Kat, Carmel & St Jude' and 'Something in the
Air'.
Clunes is centrally located to Ballarat, Daylesford,
Maryborough and is within an easy drive to over 20 wineries.
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Photo Margaret Finnegan |
ACCOMMODATION OF THE REGION
DINING IN THE REGION
ATTRACTIONS AND PLACES OF INTEREST
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