Venture off the High Country's beaten tracks and stumble upon tiny villages like Chiltern, which came of age following the discovery of gold in the 1850s. These days over 20 buildings in Chiltern are…
Venture off the High Country's beaten tracks and stumble upon tiny villages like Chiltern, which came of age following the discovery of gold in the 1850s. These days over 20 buildings in Chiltern are registered or owned by the National Trust.
Wander through the village's well-preserved nineteenth century streetscape and find mementos at the local antique store, antique fair or country boutique. Get to know the locals at the monthly Chiltern Market and stock up on seasonal produce, art and handicrafts.
Take a self-guided walk past the historic post office, courthouse and masonic hall-turned-wine bar, as well as the original police cells. Wander through the Federal Standard newspaper office and Dow's Pharmacy and discover how much things have changed since the nineteenth century.
Lakeview House is worth a stop too, being the former home of distinguished author Henry Handel Richardson, who penned the Australian classic 'The Getting of Wisdom'.
See goldfield relics and native bird life on quiet forest trails that wind their way through the Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park. Spend a little while longer and you're bound to see kangaroos, echidnas and wallabies in their own habitat, and for panoramic views across the region, take a stroll up to the Mount Pilot Lookout.
Chiltern is three hours drive (292 kilometres) from Melbourne up the Hume Highway.
