In a massive win for Australian history and heritage, Victoria's Goldfields have just taken a giant leap towards World Heritage status after earning a place on Australia's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Home to the world's most extensive and best-preserved gold rush landscapes, the Goldfields stretch across more than 20 per cent of Victoria's landmass and chart a story of rapid transformation that began in 1851, attracting hundreds of thousands of hopeful migrants from across the globe.
The echoes of the gold rush era can still be seen and heard today, from the grand Victorian buildings of Bendigo and Ballarat to the rugged mining remnants in Castlemaine and the ghost towns of Walhalla. There is also so many fascinating experiences and activities to do when it comes to experiencing the legacy of Victoria's gold rush, from venturing underground at the Central Deborah Gold Mine, exploring the local Indigenous culture at the Djaa Djuwima First Nations Art Gallery, to experiencing Sovereign Hill, the outdoor gold rush museum in Ballarat.
Considering this treasure trove of attractions, it's no surprise that the Goldfields continue to thrive as a cultural and tourism hub, welcoming millions of visitors annually and contributing over $1.8 billion to the regional economy. Achieving World Heritage status could boost tourism even further, with projections suggesting an additional whopping 2.2 million visitors within the next decade.
There's currently a campaign underway to secure the Goldfields' spot on the list, a collaborative effort between local councils, traditional owners, Victorian and Commonwealth governments, and heritage experts. The proposal includes six key areas, each representing different aspects of the gold rush experience: Bendigo's historic urban landscape, the Castlemaine Goldfields and historic townships, Creswick's Deep Lead landscape, the Great Nuggets Historic Landscape (Tarnagulla, Moliagul, and Dunolly), Lalgambuk (Mount Franklin), and the Walhalla Alpine Mining landscape. More sites could be added as the bid progresses.
If successful, the spot on the World Heritage list will honour the legacy of the gold rush and the enduring cultural traditions of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Gunaikurnai peoples, whose lands were forever changed by the pursuit of gold. The Goldfields would then join the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Sydney Opera House in Australian spots that have achieved World Heritage Status.
Between its striking landscapes, rich history, and global impact, we keep our fingers crossed that the Victorian Goldfields receives this UNESCO stamp to rightfully seal its place in our history. Find out more about the campaign here.
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