Stratford, VICTORIA
Airing Date: Jan 1st, 2002
The quaint English-style village is known as Australia's 'Stratford-upon-Avon' and it even hosts its own annual Shakespeare festival. Playwrights take note however: it was gold miners, not Shakespeare who put this place on the map.
Stratford is small and easy to explore on foot, but if you really want to step back in time to the gold rush days, then hop on a wagonette, which has enough room for the whole family.
If you want to go looking for gold then look up a fellow called Graham, a third generation gold miner who will take you on a one-day fossicking tour, covering 70 kilometres of the Briagolong gold fields. Anything you find, you can keep!
Along the way you will also stop off at the historic town of Briagolong, about 20 kilometres from Stratford. Many of the buildings here date back to the gold days, including Powerscourt Country House - an elegant B&B, which has been restored to its original Victorian splendour. The ballroom is now a restaurant and one of the finest in the region.
The facts
Powerscourt Country House has rooms available from $135 per person midweek and $155 on Saturday. The room price also includes dinner.
Powerscourt
Tel: 03 5147 1897
The Overland Gold Adventures Tour with Graham starts from $100 per person.
Overland Gold Adventures
Tel: 03 5145 6701
Maffra Tourist Information Centre
Tel: 03 5141 1811
Central Gippsland Visitor Centre
Tel: 1800 677 520
Gippsland Horse and Carriage Tours
Tel: 03 5145 6667
