Bendigo

Gold was first discovered in 1850, sparking the second gold rush in Victoria. Central Deborah Gold Mine, now a museum, was the last active mine in the area when it closed in 1954. Join a guided tour and go underground into the restored mine, where visitors descend the equivalent of a 30-storey building to explore the main shaft.

Chinese immigration to Australia was sparked by the discovery of rush. Bendigo is still home to a large Chinese community as well as the Golden Dragon Museum and Chinese Garden, which document the history of Chinese migration to country Victoria. Visit the historic Bendigo Pottery Australias oldest working producer of ceramics, view a collection of Australian art dating back to 1850 at the Bendigo Art Gallery, or fossick for gold at the nearby Whipstick State Park. In nearby Castlemaine the local prison was shut in the 1990s but now offers accommodation, walking tours, restaurants and pubs.