Dunolly to Bealiba
JOURNEY
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Timor to Dunolly
Leaving Timor, the route passes through a mix of productive farmland and former mining ground before re‑joining the highway at Bet Bet. This landscape was once intensely worked, though many of the mines are now softened by agriculture. Approaching Dunolly, the contrast between today's quiet township and its gold rush past becomes striking. In the 1850s, tens of thousands of miners descended on the area, transforming it into one of Victoria's richest and most chaotic goldfields. Dunolly retains strong architectural character and remains one of the most historically intact towns on the Goldfields Driving Tour.
Maryborough to Timor
Leaving Maryborough via Dundas Road or Pekin Road, this short but evocative section of the Goldfields Driving Tour heads northwest into forest country once intensively worked during the height of the gold rush. The landscape is scattered with old mine shafts, diggers' workings and the quiet evidence of deep‑lead mining. Passing through Chinaman's Flat, the scale of mining activity becomes clear, with large tailings from major operations still visible. These forests were once bustling industrial zones where thousands of miners laboured under harsh conditions. Arrival in Timor reveals the remnants of a once‑prosperous gold town, where hidden across the township are tangible links to the district's extraordinarily rich mining past.
Moliagul to Tarnagulla
Departing Moliagul, the road heads east toward Tarnagulla through classic goldfields country. Travellers may choose to detour via historic townships such as Rheola, Kingower, McIntyre or Murphy's Creek, each with remnants of alluvial and reef mining. Tarnagulla, once known as Sandy Creek, is one of the most authentic surviving gold towns in Victoria. Gold was discovered here in 1852, and the township developed rapidly following intense reef mining, particularly along the famous Poverty and Poseidon reefs. Today, Tarnagulla retains a strong sense of its gold rush past through its intact streetscape and heritage buildings.
Bealiba to Moliagul
Leaving Bealiba by the same road, take the left fork at the Y‑intersection and turn right at the T‑junction toward Moliagul. This short drive leads into one of Victoria's most famous gold towns. Gold discoveries here in the early 1850s triggered dramatic population growth, with thousands of prospectors flooding the area almost overnight. While Moliagul is quiet today, the landscape and town retain strong evidence of its extraordinary goldfields legacy and remain a magnet for fossickers and history enthusiasts alike.
Tarnagulla to Laanecoorie
Leaving Tarnagulla, the route heads south‑east through quiet bushland toward Laanecoorie. Near Waanyarra, an historic ghost town, the road opens to the scenic Laanecoorie Reservoir. Built in 1891, the reservoir was a vital infrastructure project that supported downstream settlements and agriculture. Laanecoorie was also a major river crossing to the Tarnagulla goldfields, and remnants of the original bridge can still be seen when water levels are low. The landscape here shifts from mining heritage to water‑based recreation.
Laanecoorie to Maryborough via Eddington
From Laanecoorie, travel south to Eddington, another significant historic river crossing on the Loddon River. Once bustling with river traffic and trade, Eddington is now a peaceful settlement. The route continues toward Maryborough via Betley, where vast mullock heaps dominate the landscape. These dramatic earthworks, formed by deep‑lead mining, clearly demonstrate the scale of mining operations that transformed the region. Returning to Maryborough completes the loop, reinforcing the town's role as the central hub of the goldfields.
Where you'll be
Dunolly Victoria 3472