Surrounding Mount Alexander Shire is the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, covering approximately 7,500 hectares. The Castlemaine Diggings is believed to be the most outstanding gold rush era site in Australia.
Attractions such as the miners huts, Chinese market gardens, mine headframes, stone footings and shallow shafts, provide a rare insight to how people lived and worked in the harsh environment of the gold fields in the mid 1800s. The preservation of these landmarks has led to the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park being included on the National Heritage List as an outstanding example of an 1850s gold rush place celebrating Australia’s economic and social achievements.
The Park’s links with the gold rush make it the first cultural heritage listing, as opposed to the usual natural listings.
David Bannear from Heritage Victoria, said the significance of the diggings lies with the stories behind it.
“The Park does not belong just to the residents of Mount Alexander, it belongs to Australia and the world,” he said. “It is believed that one quarter of all Australians can trace their ancestors back to the miners of Castlemaine. The gold rush created these towns, so the stories of rich landscape and history relate to a lot of people – anyone can be a part of it.”
Over 30 Landcare and 25 historical groups assist in running and maintaining the Park. For example, the Great Dividing Trail Association established walking trails, providing and installing all signposting.
Visitors to the Park are able to purchase a copy of Discovering the Mount Alexander Diggings from the Shire’s Visitor Centres. The book provides a detailed history on the area, tips and safety information, and most importantly, self guided tour information and maps.
