Loddon

The Loddon and Campaspe Rivers both originate in the Great Dividing Range, and are tributaries of the Murray River.

Museums and Galleries of Loddon

State:

Victoria

Bendigo

Average summer day temperature: 28.9°C

Average winter day temperature: 12.1°C

Average annual rainfall: 550.5mm

Average clear days: 78.2

Set in rolling hill county between the fertile valleys of the Loddon and Campaspe Rivers, Bendigo is 150km north east of Melbourne. Gold was first discovered in Bendigo in 1851 - the site is marked by a monument near the Golden Square fire-brigade station in the city. Mining ceased in 1954, but the Central Deborah Mine, just off the Calder Highway, has been restored and is open to visitors.

Just outside of the city is Bendigo Pottery, founded in 1857 by a Scottish potter who migrated to Australia in search of gold.

Castlemaine

Average summer day temperature: 28.3°C

Average winter day temperature: 12.1°C

Average annual rainfall: 558.4mm

Castlemain is 117km north west of Melbourne, and is a market and service centre for a productive dairying and sheep grazing region.

Castlemaine was once a famous gold-mining town, known in 1851 as "Forest Creek Diggings". More than 20 buildings in Castlemaine have been classified by the National Trust for preservation.

Castlemaine Botanical Gardens were established in 1860.

Charlton

Average summer day temperature: 30.4°C

Average winter day temperature: 13.4°C

Charlton is located about half way between Melbourne and Mildura on the Calder Highway. The Elders owned Charlton Feedlot is the largest cattle feedlot in Victoria and has recently been refurbished is running exclusively as a 'Custom Feedlot'.

Hunter

Hunter is the birthplace of the Sunshine Harvester. It was annexed from the station "Burnewang Park" after the 1st world War. The A.G. Hunter Trotting Race at Moonee Valley, Melbourne was named after A.G. Hunter who owned the Station "Burnewang Park" and who the town of Hunter was named after.

The closest town is Elmore.

Maryborough

Average summer day temperature: 28.6°C

Average winter day temperature: 12.2°C

Average annual rainfall: 531.4mm

Average clear days: 90.0

Maryborough was once a busy gold mining town around 50km to the west of Castlemaine. The American author Mark Twain visited Maryborough in 1885, and was so impressed by the grandeur of the railway station that he described it as 'a railway station with town attached'. The station now houses the tourist orientation centre, an has been classified by the National Trust.