Originally Published 11 July 2019
Located within the Shire of Mount Alexander about 20 km from Castlemaine and 136 km from Melbourne, the town of Maldon has often been described as being entirely classified by the National Trust of Victoria. In fact that is not too far from the truth as in 1966, the National Trust declared Maldon as ‘Australia’s first notable town’ on the basis of its many surviving buildings, the variety of architectural styles and its ‘nineteenth century atmosphere’.
Maldon post office (1870). Image © Steven Haby
Indeed a visit to Maldon does seem like a step back in time particularly as many of the commercial buildings have managed to retain their original identity. Furthermore Maldon featured regularly in numerous National Trust publications in the 1970s about historic towns and places of Australia – the black and white photographs adding to the aura of history and heritage. It has been described as an example of ‘conservation in practice’.
Maldon’s gold mining history is of significance as, for example, the Beehive chimney near the railway station is one of the last remaining examples of mining archaeology from the 1860s to have survived and is one of the more prominent features of the town. Quartz gold mining played a significant role in the economic development (and decline) of the region. Interestingly many of the mines suffered due to the shareholder’s impatience for dividends to be paid out rather than reinvestment in equipment and further exploration.
Locomotive K class no. 153 at Muckleford, the intermediate station on the Castlemaine & Maldon Railway (also known as Victorian Goldfields Railway). Image © Steven Haby
Today Maldon is a popular tourist destination with drawcards such as the Castlemaine & Maldon Tourist Railway (known as the Victorian Goldfields Railway) which operates to Castlemaine, numerous heritage themed walks, the museum and archives and of course the historic buildings and other features of the town. Maldon is home to the Tarrangower Times newspaper first published in 1858 and is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Victoria. The film Romulus, My Father featuring Eric Bana was shot on location in and around the town. Famous residents included Henry Handel Richardson who spent some of her childhood years in Maldon when her mother was the postmistress. Her experiences are outlined in her memoir.
By Steven Haby
Further reading
- Blackman, Grant and John Larkin. Maldon: Australia’s first notable town (Hodder & Stoughton, 1978).
- Bulletins 1-62 and Memoirs 1-31 of the Geological Survey of Victoria (Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 2000).
- Carroll, Brian. Historic gold towns of Victoria. (Quest, 1986).
- Creek, Christopher.  A rich vein: the early days of Maldon’s north and the area known as Eagle Hawk. (Christopher Creek, 2015).
- Crick, Malcolm. Heritage and planning in Maldon: a brief retrospect (Maldon Museum and Archives Association, 2002).
- Flett, James. Old pubs, inns, taverns and grog houses on the Victorian gold diggings (Hawthorne Press, 1979).
- Hallett, Keith. Maldon & Shelbourne railway 1884-1976 (Keith Hallett, 2018).
- Henry Handel Richardson in Maldon. Peter Cuffley [et. al.] (Peter Cuffley, 2010).
- Indexes to the Tarrangower Times and Maldon District Advocate (various date ranges) published by the Maldon Museum and Archives Association.
- Maldon conservation study. Jacob Lewis Vines Architects (Town and Country Planning Board, 1977).
- Maldon Muse [journal of the Maldon Museum and Archives Association].
- Patterson, A. J. Goldfields of Victoria in 1862 (Wilson & McKinnon, 1862).
- Rhule, Brian. Maldon: a new history 1853-1928 (Exploring History Australia, 2019).
- Shire of Maldon. Trees and gardens from the goldmining era: a study of the Maldon landscape (Shire of Maldon for the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, 1981).
- Williams, A. J. A concise history of Maldon and Tarrangower diggings (Maldon Museum and Archives Association, 2003).