The township of Daylesford is located between Castlemaine and Creswick, within a region that contains Australia s largest concentration of natural mineral springs.
A gold rush occurred in the area when alluvial gold was found in 1851, with the town of Daylesford was being surveyed in 1854. While Daylesford s initial growth was due to the thousands of workers looking for gold, the town is much more famous for the bubbling mineral waters which flow from its many springs. Coupled with its beautiful mountain scenery, forests, gardens and lakes, Daylesford and neighbouring Hepburn Springs have become major tourist, holiday and alternative lifestyle towns. There is a thriving industry built around physical and spiritual wellness including spa treatments, massages and acupuncture.
The commercial centre of Daylesford is located along Albert Street and Vincent Street. It features a generous collection of historic buildings including the post office (built in 1867), town hall (1882), and several hotels and shops. Many of Daylesford s streets are lined with deciduous trees that erupt into a blaze of colour during the autumn season.
Lake Daylesford, which covers land upon which gold was first discovered, was created in 1929 and is located in the beautiful Central Springs Reserve, just a few minutes’ walk south of the town centre. There is a cafe built right beside the lake, picnic spots, walking tracks and several mineral springs. Jetties are provided for fishing and for those wishing to hire rowboats or other pleasure craft.
A short walk east of the town centre is the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens which were first established in 1863. They are situated on an extinct volcano and offer good views over the surrounding countryside from its manicured lawns and pathways. The gardens also feature a rotunda, lookout tower and conservatory. Jubilee Lake is located a couple of kilometres south of Daylesford, constructed in 1860 as a water supply. These days it is a scenic spot ideal for fishing, boating and swimming, just a short walk from a mineral spring. A few kilometres further south is Sailor s Falls a 30 metre cascade of water into a deep gorge, surrounded by a reserve.
The small town of Hepburn Springs is located within a region that contains Australia s largest concentration of natural mineral springs, 5 kilometres north of the larger centre of Daylesford. Hepburn Springs is offers an attractive and scenic destination for visitors, surrounded by thick forests, gullies, and a multitude of mineral springs.
The Mineral Springs Reserve, at the northern end of town, is home to the iconic Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, an extensive network of bush walking tracks and BBQ facilities. The park has a collection of mineral springs, some flowing continuously, and others operated with a hand pump. Visitors are able to freely bottle their own bubbling mineral water from the springs which include Locarno, Pavilion, Soda, Sulphur and Wyuna.
Making use of the mineral waters are a number of spa resorts within the town where the visitor can experience hydrotherapy and other health treatments in a luxurious environment.
The commercial heart of Hepburn Springs is spread along Main Road. There are a couple of hotels, cafes, restaurants, a post office and several shops, intermingled between residential properties. The influence of Italians and Swiss who originally settled in the area due to the gold rush is evident in the gardens and architecture of the town.
Jacksons Lookout, on Back Hepburn Road, consists of a tower visitors can climb in order to view the thick forests that surround the town. Around 7 kilometres north of town on the Midland Highway is Mount Franklin. This extinct volcano features a shady picnic area and there are good views from its summit.
Author Resource:-
Audrina Martin is a travel writer for last minute accommodation site – LastBeds. Audrina has misspent the last 20 years travelling to destinations far and wide, reviewing resorts, restaurants and hotels. Her current favourite city is Melbourne and she only books accommodation at the last minute.
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