Old goldmining town now part of the larger Bendigo
The casual visitor, turning into the Loddon Valley Highway at the north-eastern edge of Bendigo, would probably think they were passing through an undifferentiated outer suburb of the sprawling city. However, the residential build-up hides the fact that they are, in fact, passing through an old goldmining town which was declared an independent borough in 1862 and which remained so until the early 1990s. Moreover, political and physical incorporation is not necessarily matched by genuine assimilation. Locals are very much aware of their identity as an independent goldmining past and a strong working-class settlement. This is reflected in the photographs of the town's past which adorn the walls of local business premises.
For the most part Eaglehawk is clustered around High St, Spring Gully Rd and Peg Leg Rd (the start of the Loddon Valley Highway which heads in a northerly direction to Serpentine and Kerang). It is located 157 km north-west of Melbourne.
This area was once occupied by the Neangar Aboriginal tribe. The Eaglehawk goldrush began in 1852 when Joseph Crook found a nugget while searching for some stray horses. An eaglehawk flying near his claim was allegedly the source of the town's name.
At the peak of the goldrush the population was to reach 40 000 although the alluvial gold was already largely exhausted by 1853. This led to the establishment of quartz-crushing reef mines. 300 tonnes of gold were ultimately extracted from the subterranean shafts although working conditions for the miners were appalling, despite the wealth they accumulated for the mine owners who ran the town and whose fine homes stand as testimony to the hard work done by their employees. Due to a lack of ventilation underground many died of respiratory disease by the time they were 35. A local doctor, Stewart Cohen, organised a movement which agitated against the Bendigo Mine Owners Association, ultimately winning improvements in ventilation and other working conditions.
The mines essentially ceased operations in the 1890s although there were periods of renewed activity until the 1950s.
Thomas Alexander Browne (aka novelist Rolf Boldrewood) once had a station to the north of town and allegedly owned the local butcher's shop. One of his novels, The Sphinx of Eaglehawk (1895), draws on first-hand knowledge. The town is also mentioned in one of A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson's better-known poems, 'Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk' (1902) who 'caught the cycling craze'.
On the sporting front, William Midwinter Jr, a member of the first Australian cricket team to play in an Ashes series (1877), grew up in the Eaglehawk area. He was born in England and was later persuaded to play for England by W.G. Grace, though he apparently regretted the decision. Tragically, two of his young children and his wife died within two years of each other. He suffered deep despair and was committed to an asylum. His third child died at the age of 12.
A Dahlia and Arts Festival is held every March with music, dancing, arts displays and processions.
Bendigo Visitor Centre, tel: (03) 5444 4445.
The civic heart of old Eaglehawk is clustered around the opulent town hall in Brassey Square at the corner of High St, Sailors Gully Rd and Peg Leg Rd (which is the start of the Loddon Valley Highway). It was built in 1901 on the site of an earlier town hall. It is fronted by historic cannons which were built in 1859 and 1861 at Newcastle in England. Probably used at a fort on Port Phillip Bay until 1901 they are still fired each year on Australia Day. An eaglehawk is motif is utilised in one of the building's stained-glass windows.
The town hall is flanked by the former post office (1874) and mechanics' institute (1883).
Eaglehawk Courthouse Museum
Behind the town hall, a short distance along Sailors Gully Rd, is the squat red-brick courthouse (1869) which is of some architectural interest in that it is considered an atypical Victorian courthouse. It now houses a display of material relating to local history, particularly photographs, and conducts family history research. It is open Sundays from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: (03) 5446 8915 or (03) 5446 9528.
Adjacent the courthouse is the old log lock-up which was built around 1855 to serve as temporary accommodation for prisoners and those awaiting trial. It is constructed of 30-cm rough-hewn logs stacked 14 high and crossed at the corners with a solid timber door. The museum can arrange admission.
Bank of Victoria
Walk south along High St to the Napier St intersection where you will find the old Bank of Victoria (1881), a two-storey Classical brick building with pilasters, architraves and hood mouldings.
Canterbury Park, once a denuded ruin of alluvial gold workings, runs adjacent Napier St. Today there are botanic gardens, sporting facilities, toilets and picnic-barbecue facilities. At the far end of the park is Lake Neangar, a popular spot with waterbirds which was named after the Aboriginal tribe which occupied the area prior to white settlement. Adjacent the lake is a recreation and leisure centre. 1500 varieties of dahlia can be seen here during the Dahlia and Arts Festival in March. The park's wrought-iron gates were cast in 1912 at a foundry which then existed on Sailors Gully Rd.
Return to High St. The next crossroad is Victoria St. Turn left and, at 80-82 Victoria St, are the municipal offices which are situated in a superb building which was erected in the 1890s as a private residence, tel: (03) 5446 8966.
Old Primitive Methodist Church
Return again to High St and continue south to the Brazier St intersection where you will find a section of the primary school which was originally the Primitive Methodist Church (1865). There was, at one time, a major feud between the East Methodist and West Methodist Churches. When the Uniting Church was formed in 1977 the East Methodist Church was closed and converted to its present usage.
Continue south along the main road to Reserve St and turn right. Just along this road is St Liborius Catholic Church (1869). Liborius was the patron saint of Paderborn in Germany, the birthplace of Dr Henry Backhaus who laid the foundation stone.
Slightly further south along the main road is Jobs Gully Bridge which is considered the gateway to Eaglehawk.
St Augustine's, Myers Flat
If you head back along High St to the town hall the road forks left (the Loddon Valley Highway) and right (Sailors Gully Rd). Follow Sailors Gully Rd for 1.5 km and there is another fork. Keep to the left (a continuation of Sailors Gully Rd) and, after 1 km, you will see, to the right, just past Coakes St, St Augustine's Catholic Church which dates from 1864.
Follow Sailors Gully Rd until you come to a T-intersection. Turn left onto the Loddon Valley Highway, heading back towards Eaglehawk. After 1.6 km there is a turnoff to the right into Hopkins Ave. Be careful at this point as the road forks confusingly several times. At the first fork stick to the right and at the second keep to the left. At the end of Hopkins Ave the road veers sharply to the left becoming McCormacks Rd. Clarke St is the second left. Here you will find four sandstone cottages which represent the core of Harveytown which was once a tiny Cornish mining community.
The cottages were built around 1875 by Cornish stonemasons Richard and Thomas Harvey who found employment here as builders and miners. The cottage at 8 Clarke St was probably Thomas Harvey's home. It was originally a two-room dwelling with four more rooms and various walls, all of stone, added at later stages.
Hopkins Ave can, of course, be accessed by following the highway out from the town hall at Eaglehawk (a distance of 1.8 km).
Located at 1530 Sandhurst Town Road, the Atisha Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist temple and monastery with bookshop. It is open from midday to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Sundays. Donations are welcome, tel: (03) 5446 3336.
Whipstick National Park
Whipstick National Park (2300 ha) is one of the few local forests to survive years of goldmining, timbergetting and eucalyptus oil distillation. It was declared to protect a wealth of wildlife and some unique vegetation, consisting largely of whipstick mallee and whirakee wattle. Whipstick vegetation consists essentially of spindly, woody plant stems. The name apparently derives from the fact that they were considered ideal for switches by the early bullock drivers.
Camping, picnicking, bushwalking, cycling, gold fossicking and birdwatching can all be enjoyed within the park. The forest bursts into bloom in spring due to its many wildflowers. It contains echidnae, wallabies, kangaroos, the mouse dunnart and 100 bird species including lorikeets and honeyeaters.
The park's walking and cycling tracks lead by goldmining relics, picnic areas and some of the old and abandoned eucalyptus distilleries which once dotted the area. From the Shadbolt Picnic Area there are walks to the viewing area at Flagstaff Hill (1 km) and to Old Tom Goldmine (5.3 km return). Pamphlets outlining the features of these walks in great detail are available from The Parks Victoria office at 57 Bieu St, Bendigo (tel: 03 5444 6620). They have excellent, up-to-date material detailing all pertinent aspects of the public lands around Bendigo, including Whipstick. They can also tell you about the Bendigo Bushland Trail (65 km of walking-cycling trails) which explore the area's rich supply of goldmining relics and natural features.
Head out of Eaglehawk along Sailors Gully Rd for 1.5 km, turn right when you come to the fork in the road onto the Raywood Rd, then right into Leslie St which becomes Whipstick Rd.
Terrick Terrick State Park
If you follow the Raywood Rd out of Eaglehawk it will bring you, after 61 km, to the small town of Mitiamo where there is an hotel and Vivienne's Gallery at 1A Haig St. Another 4 km north along the main road is Terrick Terrick State Park (73 km north of Eaglehawk). This reserve protects an important remnant of northern plains flora, including the state's finest stand of native white cypress pines. Fauna includes grey kangaroos and a plenitude of birdlife (it is the largest nesting site for Brolgas in Victoria). The park has some dramatic granite outcrops and natural depressions which were used as water holes by the Aborigines.
Lesser tracks head off the main road. There are fireplaces, tables, toilets and fine views at Mt Terrick Terrick itself. Camping is permitted. Ring (03) 5444 6620 or (03) 5450 3957 for further information.
Hartland's Eucalyptus Oil Factory
Hartland's Eucalyptus Oil Factory was established in 1890 and is still operating using the original methods. They are open daily for sales, tel: (03) 5448 8227.
To get there head north along the Northern Highway (towards Echuca) and turn left at Huntly and the factory is 9 km along that road, adjacent Whipstick National Park
Eaglehawk VIC 3556
Telephone: (03) 5446 8888
Railway Station Hotel
Eaglehawk VIC 3556
Telephone: (03) 5446 8805
Chubby Chequers Restaurant
Eaglehawk VIC 3556
Telephone: (03) 5446 7207
Top End Steakhouse
Eaglehawk VIC 3556
Telephone: (03) 5446 1642