Welcome to the sleepy little township of Clunes, the site of Victoria’s first public gold discovery in July 1851.
Clunes is highly valued for its natural beauty and gold mining heritage. This quaint little township of historic buildings is nestled on the inclines of the Creswick Creek, with exquisite views across the valley, showcasing the town’s aspect. There is a lovely originality to the town, with its wide streets, heritage trees, bluestone guttering, and a simple layout of commercial, government and residential areas.
Moving away from the main streets and the orderly town centre, Clunes gives way to small winding roads and a jumble of seemingly haphazard sized building lots. These lots host a diversity of building stock from small miners’ cottages, to grander rural homesteads, and contribute to a sense of the town’s development over time. The outskirts of the township are punctuated by small mullock heaps evidencing its former mining activity and extend out to farming land and forested areas beyond the town. The whole area is encircled by small hills in the distance.