Melbourne’s Golden Mile Heritage Trail

melbourne-golden-heritage-trail.jpgWhen gold was discovered in Melbourne in 1852, it prompted a gold rush that had far reaching effects – immigrants in Britain purchased more tickets to Melbourne in 1852 than to any other place worldwide. It also had far reaching effects on the city, and to get a taste of how the gold rush impacted Melbourne you’ll want to take the Golden Mile Herigate Trail.

The trail starts in Federation Square at the Melbourne Museum. Guided tours are available daily, but be sure to call ahead for bookings. You can also explore the trail on your own with a booklet purchased from the visitor’s centre, an option that provides a very flexible way to enjoy the city. The trail is an easy walk of about four kilometers, taking about two-and-a-half to three hours and explores the so-called ‘golden mile’ of outstanding architecture built when the city was flush with money from the gold rush. With thirty-three stops, there is really no better way to begin exploring the sights of Melbourne.

As you make your way along the route, your tour guide will share stories of colorful characters and historic places. The trail opens with the Immigration Museum, which was the old Customs House. Further along you’ll see the La Meridien Hotel, formerly the Rialto, which was created by its architect to look like a Venetian building. Enjoy Melbourne’s equivalent of England’s Chancery Lane, and in the financial district marvel at the gothic architecture of the ANZ Banking Museum. In the Parliament area you’ll notice several prominent statues, and you can explore the supposedly haunted Princess theater. The tour ends at the Royal Exhibition Buildings where visitors can head back to the museum or enjoy a stroll around Carlton Gardens.


The Town of Narrandera

The quaint rural town of Narrandera is located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, about a four-and-a-half hour drive from Sydney.  With streets lined with cedar trees and Victorian style two-level buildings complete with balconies and verandahs, this is a beautiful place to escape from the hectic pace of Australia’s urban centers.

Established as a village in 1863, the area was originally home to the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people.  As a noted historical center, be sure to follow the self-guided historical walk to explore some of Narrandera’s oldest buildings.  Pamphlets can be picked up at the visitor center, which, incidentally, also has a six meter guitar that can actually be played.  The local Narrandera Park and Miniature Zoo is a great place for a picnic, and also is home to a Tiger Moth plane commemorating the pilots that were trained there in World War II.  Other places to stop at in town are the Parkside Cottage Museum and the Hankinson ceramic fountain that was built by Royal Daulton.

For nature lovers, the area is best known for the Bundidgerry Walking Track, a trail following the wildlife reserve located just outside of town.  The area is home to a large colony of koala bears that are part of a new regeneration project.  Tours can be set up through the Narrandera Koala Regeneration Reserve.  Additionally, the area is home to kangaroos and parrots, as well as many other species of birds.  Try taking a walk early in the morning for optimal wildlife viewing.

The town itself is home to a diverse collection of shops, and hosts many festivals throughout the year, including the John O’Brien Folk Festival that celebrates the famed poet who called Narrandera home.  With several hotels and many bed and breakfasts in the area, you’ll find Narrandera to be a very comfortable stop on your Australian vacation.


Aboriginal Galleries in New South Wales

New South Wales is home to many wonderful Aboriginal museums and art galleries.  Here are a few that you’ll want to check out while in the area.

With one of the largest collections of Aboriginal art in the country, the Yiribana Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Gallery is a must see when visiting Sydney.  Meaning “this way,” Yiribana’s highlights include seventeen pukumani grave posts, artifacts and birch paintings from Arnhem Land, and works by Australia’s leading Aboriginal artists, both past and present.

Also in Sydney, at Darling Harbour, is the Gavala Aboriginal Gallery, an Aboriginal-owned gallery and store.  Here you can purchase Aboriginal art from across Australia, including paintings, carvings, boomerangs and didgeridoos.  You’ll also find a good selection of books at the store.  Near the Port Stephens area is the Tobwabba Art Gallery and Studio, where twenty-two Aboriginal artists are showcased.  They style here differs greatly from traditional Aboriginal art, as these “contemporary coastal” artists blend modern and traditional images and use rich, vibrant colours.

The Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural Center in western Sydney provides an incredible learning experience.  Although primarily focused on the Darug people, the museum also reflects the diversity of Aboriginal groups across Australia.  Dancers perform at the outdoor amphitheatre, and tour guides demonstrate such activities as playing the didgeridoo and using a boomerang.  The café features traditional Aboriginal bush tucker.

South of Sydney is the Umbarra Cultural Centre where visitors can learn about the Yuin people.  Tours of sacred areas can be taken both by four-wheel-drive and also on a boat cruise on Wallaga Lake.  There are many activities that visitors can participate in, including body painting with ochre, throwing the boomerang, building bark shelters, and listening to local stories.

Finally, if you are in the Pokolbin area, you might wish to visit Biame, based in the beautiful Hunter Valley Gardens.  Although they primarily sell authentic Aboriginal arts and crafts, there are also opportunities to take informative tours of the center and also of the local Wollemi National Park.


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