When 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.
