Holiday houses in Clunes

Clunes is a historic gold mining town nestled in the heart of the Victorian Central Goldfields region, less than two hours from Melbourne and just over an hour’s drive from the deep gorge and tranquil wilderness of Lerderderg State Park. Clunes was the site of Victoria’s first gold strike in 1851 and, for a short time, the richest place on earth. Today, it’s considered to be one of the best-preserved 19th-century towns in Australia. The town centre boasts several historic buildings and a wide, elegant thoroughfare full of original storefronts and verandas housing antique and collectable stores, bookstores, and cafes.

Clunes is tucked in a steep valley, surrounded by hills that were once active volcanoes. You can try your hand at bushwalking and rock climbing at Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve, where you’ll be greeted by an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. The Goldfields region is dotted with vineyards and wineries — head to Ballarat for cool-climate varieties or sample Shiraz in Heathcote and Bendigo. A short drive east will take you to Hepburn Springs, where you will find Australia’s largest concentration of mineral springs, full of health-giving properties.

The most popular times to stay in Clunes are the shoulder seasons of autumn and spring, when the days are mostly sunny and dry. In May, Clunes hosts its biggest event, the Booktown Festival, which brings together thousands of booksellers, as well as writers and speakers from all over the world, to celebrate all things literature. In spring, the region surrounding the town blooms with a kaleidoscopic display of wildflowers, while, in November, Springfest gets underway in the nearby city of Ballarat. This annual market features over 500 stalls around Lake Wendouree serving up food, arts and crafts, clothes, and jewellery, with added music, performers, and a car display. If you arrive at your accommodation in Clunes during the summer, be prepared for soaring temperatures.

Fraser Street

Wandering down the main street in Clunes feels like taking a step back in time. This perfectly preserved 19th-century street with narrow columns and shady verandas has served as the set for films and television series. The thoroughfare is full of gold rush era buildings that look untouched since they were built, and houses independent shops and family-run cafes.

Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve

Just 10 minutes from Clunes, Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve is a rugged landscape with a network of scenic walking tracks. A huge solitary pine tree sits at the summit — at over 100 years old, it is on Victoria’s Register of Significant Trees. As well as providing wide-ranging views of the countryside beyond, the reserve is also home to a wide variety of birdlife, and, in spring, it blooms with a rainbow of delicate wildflowers.

Clunes Museum

Easy to find on the town’s main street, Clunes Museum is housed in a former warehouse built in 1860. Exhibitions depict life during the town’s hectic gold rush and mining eras, with 19th-century artefacts making up part of the 4,000-piece collection. The museum and its galleries are wheelchair-accessible and form part of The Warehouse — a community centre that includes a library and the Visitor Information Centre.