Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid

• There are the Traditional Owners of this Country turned ‘upside down’ in the goldrushes: Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung.
• There are the people who came here from all around the world and settled as part of the goldrushes: Scottish, English, Irish and Chinese.
• There are the towns and hamlets that grew and developed to become gateways for services to travellers to the Bendigo, McIvor (Heathcote) and Mount Alexander (Castlemaine) goldfields: Kyneton, Lancefield and Romsey.
• There are the grazing and farming areas that grew and manufactured food for the goldfields: Lancefield, Lauriston, Malmsbury and Romsey.
• There are the major transport routes to the Mount Alexander and Bendigo goldfields that still connect through Macedon Ranges: the Mount Alexander Road, now the Calder Freeway, and the Melbourne to Bendigo and Echuca Railway.
• There are the notorious forests that were dangerous for travellers, prey to the bushrangers who frequented them: Black Forest and Woodend.
• There were the Caroline Chisholm shelters for the women and children who came to join their digger families once at Gisborne, Black Forest, Woodend, Carlsruhe, and Malmsbury.
• There were gold mining areas that were also rushed at Black Forest, Bullengarook, Lauritson, Macedon and Malmsbury.

But arguably the greatest story of goldfields in Macedon Ranges is the story of the water for the gold. First conceived in 1862 by Joseph Brady, this water supply system built from 1866 is still largely in operation today. It is a technical and technological accomplishment that helped establish civil engineering as a profession and industry and delivered water through a dry landscape over 100kms long. The fine C19th water structures display craftsmanship and skill and these state heritage protected water works can still be seen today at the Malmsbury Reservoir.

The Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid is recognised as an action in key Council documents:

• Macedon Ranges Shaping the Ranges 2025-35 Year One Action Plan and Indicators (Our Economy 3): The value, recognition, protection and celebration of Macedon Ranges’ unique Aboriginal, historic and natural heritage is a key theme throughout the Shaping the Ranges 2025-35 plan, adopted 2025, which combines the Community Vision with the Council Plan.
• Macedon Ranges Economic Development Strategy 2021-2031 (Regional Partnerships 4), adopted 2021.
• Macedon Ranges Heritage Strategy 2024-2034 (Supporting Action 5), adopted 2024.

In January 2025, it was announced that the Australian Government had officially given the green light for the Victorian Goldfields to seek World Heritage Listing, marking a historic milestone after 35 years of advocacy, with its successful inclusion on Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Work is now ongoing - including across participating councils - to further support awareness of this listing, and to continue to support any next steps in the process (the aim being that the region is committed, organised, investment-aware and preparing the ground).

When: Thursday 4 June, 3:30-5:30pm
Where: Malmsbury Town Hall, 91 Mollison St, Malmsbury

Hosted by Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid Project Team, the bid team will provide an update and an overview of the World Heritage listing bid process and what this means for communities, businesses and the wider region.

Light refreshments will be followed by a presentation and time for questions. No registrations needed.

Find out more here.