Victoria People & Culture

Barkers Creek is located in Victoria, Australia. Famous as the site of the first discovery of gold in the district. Barkers Creek is now a place where people live surrounded by the re-growth box ironbark forest. The cricket ground is notable in that it is the earliest cricket ground still in use in Australia. Essentially Barkers Creek is a lovely, quiet spot with a fascinating past. Skydancers Orchid and Butterfly Gardens in Barkers Creek is Australia's only temperate butterfly house. I just love butterflies. They're so delicate beautiful... There is also an extensive orchid display, a native plant garden, a nursery and a licensed BYO restaurant which serves home-style lunches where i enjoyed myself more than any other place in Barkers Creek. Please note this place is closed in July. Lucky for me i visited Barkers Creek in March. Barkers Creek Reservoir, is a good spot for those who like some peaceful country fishing. I have no time for fishing though because i was on tour :( Another tourist spot which i recommend is at Mount Alexander. There are excellent views from here. A short distance away is the so-called 'Koala Park' (well-signposted). There are picnic facilities, toilets and a fencing path. If you wander around and look at the tree branches you will see one or two of the elusive and adored marsupials. Don't missed out this three places.

I love the city, nice people, good nightlife, St.-Kilda beach

Benambra is a sleepy little town, with one oub, and a general store, the population is around 150 people. benambra is surrounded my farmland mainly used for grazing cattle and sheep.there is a lake by the town, but it ha snot been full since the 1970's and is most often dry. Close by there are national parks which provede great opportunities for bushwalks, fishing, swimming and four wheel driving., allthough well off the beaten track this little town in the middle of nowhere is quite beautiful. the people are freindly, and the pub provides a good meal, and a nice cold beer to quench a travellers thirst. accomodation may be found at the pub, but there are many beautiful (free) camping places out of town also.

Benambra is a sleepy little town, with one pub, and a general store, the population is around 150 people. benambra is surrounded my farmland mainly used for grazing cattle and sheep.there is a lake by the town, but it ha snot been full since the 1970's and is most often dry. Close by there are national parks which provede great opportunities for bushwalks, fishing, swimming and four wheel driving., allthough well off the beaten track this little town in the middle of nowhere is quite beautiful. the people are freindly, and the pub provides a good meal, and a nice cold beer to quench a travellers thirst. accomodation may be found at the pub, but there are many beautiful (free) camping places out of town also.

Only 6 habitants - and a tour bus with about 25 people each evening...

The city of shopping, the famous cuckoo clock that plays Waltzing Matilda and Mt Dandenong which makes for a nice day trip. Don't drive unless you are very brave. The trams and traffic have an uneasy set of rules. The Melbourne Tennis Center is home to the Australian Open and of course this is the home of Aussie Rules. Lots of great Greek and Italian restaurants and a thriving metropolis of cultures.

Melbourne is Australia's second largest city. Attractively located on the the banks of the Yarra River and the shores of Port Phillip, Melbourne is characterised by a sophistication and a certain solidity of purpose. The essence of the city was forged in the 1850s when it was the largest, and most affluent, settlement in Australia as a result of its proximity to the vast goldfields of Ballarat, Bendigo and literally dozens of other smaller mining settlements in Victoria. Although Melbourne was to experience depressions in both the 1890s and 1930s it was basically a prosperous and successful city. Its vitality and dynamism of the state continued after World War II when, as a result of Australia's active attempt to attract migrants from Europe, large numbers of non-English speaking settlers (particularly from Italy and Greece) arrived. It is often claimed (not entirely accurately) that Melbourne is the second-largest Greek city in the world (it has recently been changed to third largest city) and the largest Italian city outside Italy. Certainly Lygon Street, famed for its international cuisine, is a symbol of the cultural diversity of the city. Exploring Melbourne
It is quite impossible to list everything that is available to the visitor arriving in Melbourne. However, in the larger context of the city, here is a fairly comprehensive list of the attractions all within walking distance of Flinders Street Station which is the psychological centre of the city. Opposite is Federation Square. The heart of the city. Below is an extensive tourist information centre.

Melbourne is definetely the place to go AFTER Sydney - a bit less overcrowded and a bit on the quiet side. So you would think! There are wonderful pubs down every road with cheap-drink offers and there is always much activity regarding film festivals or other cultural happenings. Be sure to visit the Crown Hotel and don't gamble too much!

Macedon Hugely attractive and historic area. Mt Macedon is an extinct volcano which rises to 1010 metres above sea-level, making it the highest peak of the Macedon Ranges. The area associated with the mountain possesses immense scenic and natural values and a richly developed English cultural heritage, particularly in terms of its horticulture and architecture. At the foot of the mountain is the township of Macedon (population 1250) while, part way up the hill, 65 km north-west of Melbourne, are the lovely tree-lined streets and gardens of Mount Macedon (population 670) which has the Trading Post (a general store cum newsagency), a restaurant, a nursery or two, cottage accommodation and a pub named the Mountain Inn which is a fine English-style hotel with gardens, tennis courts and croquet lawns at the rear. Within are old-fashioned rooms and a fine restaurant. Visitors from Melbourne would head north-west along the Calder Highway, turning right into Mt Macedon Rd just past the Gisborne exit.

Just walk. All day. Walk down the little streets and into the alleys, you'll be sure to find a gem of a coffee shop, a little boutique, or something else. This city is amazing and culture is everywhere! There is art lining the neighborhoods.

Check out Campbell Arcade - the subway running under Flinders Street from Degraves Street to Flinders Street Station. Local artists exhibit in glass display cases set into the walls, and there are interesting shops selling clothes, jewellery, books and music.

good music and a lot of interesting artists

Fusion Club is cool. They play good electro music there.

yahoo bar, great bar with funky music! great walks along the murray river or mountain biking

Hit up the city first if you are staying in a city hotel. You are paying top dollar so have a good look around, go to the Australian art gallery at Fed square, its free.

Melbourne is quite flat, so its easy to walk right round the city. There are also lots of bike paths so hire a bike and follow the river, ask the locals, head to Mountain Goat Brewery in Richmond, the Convent in Abbotsford and up to Studley Park in Kew.

Chill on the south bank of the Yarra and pick up some meat for a barbeque, then pick your way through the narrow alleyways between the wide streets that run East-West through the city.

Bars: St Jeromes, Workshop, Lounge, E55, Pony, Cherry.

This should not take up too much of your time though because most of the great places to eat, shop and party are just outside the city. Go to Fitzroy, Collingwood or Carlton first for a relaxed village atmosphere with great shops and bars.
Blue Tile Lounge, Night Cat, The Evelyn, Bimbos, Rochester Castle

Many places have cheap lunches, cheap drinks and half-price dinners. Check out The Carlton Club, Lounge and Rochester Castle. The little Japanese takeaway next to St Jeromes is cheap and good too.

Head to Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy to mix it with local artists, musicians, writers, skaters, activists, punks, and girls with dogs.

Hit up Bridge Road Richmond for some great cafes and sale outlets,

Maedaya Japanese Restaurant, Tofu shop

then maybe head south of the river to Chapel street and St Kilda for the nightclubs, high fashion and the beach.

Revolver, Bigmouth, Vineyard, Yellow Bird. Luna Park

If you really want to go to nice beaches, get a metcard and get on the Franston line, go past the popular spots like Brighton and Sandringham and get off at Edithvale or Aspendale, the better bay beaches are a few kilometres south of the city. Good ocean beaches are on Phillip Island, or just past Geelong, places like Torquay and Thirteenth Beach at Barwon Heads.


Melbourne has great day trips, to the snow, only three hours drive. There are three large ski resorts in Victoria, go to Buller for the day, its so big now its got a university, not sure how many bars and restaurants and so many lifts, but Hotham has better snow. Its also bigger and cheaper too. Better nightlife too probably.

Or go see the spectacular cliffs and rock formations, wildlife and the curves of the Great Ocean Road. Puffing Billy is a historic steam engine ｔｈrough the Gumtree forests of the Dandenong Ranges which is perfect for couples and kids of all ages.

Bring beer, wine, spirits from your local area to drink with your new friends or hosts. Or a local favourite food if they let ya. Or a musical instrument, local costume etc.

Trams and buses are generally good, they don't link up with the trains that well everywhere though so get ready to do some walking. Transport is cheap and quite simple too as there are now only two zones in Melbourne.

Watch out when you are on public transport, you will need to buy your ticket before you get on a tram unless you carry small change with you. No one will sell you one onboard if you haven't got the right money, you will get a huge fine.

Barkers Creek is located in Victoria, Australia. Famous as the site of the first discovery of gold in the district. Barkers Creek is now a place where people live surrounded by the re-growth box ironbark forest. The cricket ground is notable in that it is the earliest cricket ground still in use in Australia. Essentially Barkers Creek is a lovely, quiet spot with a fascinating past. Skydancers Orchid and Butterfly Gardens in Barkers Creek is Australia's only temperate butterfly house. I just love butterflies. They're so delicate beautiful... There is also an extensive orchid display, a native plant garden, a nursery and a licensed BYO restaurant which serves home-style lunches where i enjoyed myself more than any other place in Barkers Creek. Please note this place is closed in July. Lucky for me i visited Barkers Creek in March. Barkers Creek Reservoir, is a good spot for those who like some peaceful country fishing. I have no time for fishing though because i was on tour :( Another tourist spot which i recommend is at Mount Alexander. There are excellent views from here. A short distance away is the so-called 'Koala Park' (well-signposted). There are picnic facilities, toilets and a fencing path. If you wander around and look at the tree branches you will see one or two of the elusive and adored marsupials. Don't missed out this three places.

when in Ballarat just go and see 'Sovereign Hill'! It's an authentic gold diggers camp with loads of interresting stuff to see and do!

Benambra is a sleepy little town, with one oub, and a general store, the population is around 150 people. benambra is surrounded my farmland mainly used for grazing cattle and sheep.there is a lake by the town, but it ha snot been full since the 1970's and is most often dry. Close by there are national parks which provede great opportunities for bushwalks, fishing, swimming and four wheel driving., allthough well off the beaten track this little town in the middle of nowhere is quite beautiful. the people are freindly, and the pub provides a good meal, and a nice cold beer to quench a travellers thirst. accomodation may be found at the pub, but there are many beautiful (free) camping places out of town also.

Benambra is a sleepy little town, with one pub, and a general store, the population is around 150 people. benambra is surrounded my farmland mainly used for grazing cattle and sheep.there is a lake by the town, but it ha snot been full since the 1970's and is most often dry. Close by there are national parks which provede great opportunities for bushwalks, fishing, swimming and four wheel driving., allthough well off the beaten track this little town in the middle of nowhere is quite beautiful. the people are freindly, and the pub provides a good meal, and a nice cold beer to quench a travellers thirst. accomodation may be found at the pub, but there are many beautiful (free) camping places out of town also.

Do fish and chips - but if you spend long enough there you can't help but have fish and chips.

The best city in the world.

use the public transport!!

The city of shopping, the famous cuckoo clock that plays Waltzing Matilda and Mt Dandenong which makes for a nice day trip. Don't drive unless you are very brave. The trams and traffic have an uneasy set of rules. The Melbourne Tennis Center is home to the Australian Open and of course this is the home of Aussie Rules. Lots of great Greek and Italian restaurants and a thriving metropolis of cultures.

Trams are the best way to get around Melbourne

If you're interested in film, make sure you get along to the australian film museum in Federation Square...there are great interactive pods where you can watch Australian short films for as long as you like, free of charge.

Ballarat
Historic gold mining city of great elegance and charm.
The blue-and-white Southern Cross flags which flutter throughout Ballarat symbolise the strong association of the city with the Eureka Rebellion - an event with great resonance in Australian history - and thus with its goldmining past. Ballarat is a very major provincial centre located 110 km west of Melbourne via the Western Freeway and 441 metres above sea-level. The current population is 83 000, making it Victoria's largest inland city. Tourism, retail, manufacturing and community services are now the city's major industries. Visually, Ballarat creates an impression of stateliness and grandeur by virtue of its magnificent wide thoroughfare, the Victorian and Edwardian architecture, tree-lined avenues, parks, gardens and statuary, and its substantial educational institutions. The town's name derives from the indigenous occupants of the area (said to be the Wathawurung) who called it 'Balla-arat' which is said to mean 'a good resting place'. This is thought to be a reference to the fact that they formed a camp here by Lake Wendouree (then a swamp). Ballarat is a beautiful and historic city with wide, tree-lined streets that are replete with elegant heritage buildings. Thankfully the Tourist Information Centre have put together a detailed and excellent self-guided Heritage Walk which covers the history of the inner city's streets, buildings and sites. It is not to be missed. The Eureka Trail was developed in 1996. It is a 3.5-km walk which retraces the route taken by the police and soldiers from the government camp to the Eureka Stockade in 1854. The intention was to take the miners by surprise so they followed an indirect path through gullies, rivers and hills which is now denoted by directional bollards and interpretive signs. It takes in the fine Victorian architecture of Lydiard St (the site of the original government camp), the Eastern Oval, bluestone channels, the banks of the Yarrowee River, the Black Hill Lookout and Reserve and old miners' cottages in Ballarat East and it provides linkages with the Yarrowee River Trail and the Great Dividing Trail. The trail starts at the post office in Lydiard St and concludes at the Eureka Stockade Centre. For further information contact the Information Centre, the Eureka Stockade Centre (03 5333 1854)or ring (03) 5320 5500. Sovereign Hill is the town's primary tourist attraction, drawing over 500 000 visitors a year. It is a 35-acre open-air museum established in 1970 near the site of the first gold strike at Ballarat and on the site of the Sovereign Quartz Mining Company which sank a shaft of 216 metres near the summit of this hill. This non-profit organisation seeks to recreate aspects of Ballarat as it was in the goldmining heyday of the 1850s. Thus each of the 60 buildings is a duplicate of an original structure, as photographed, drawn or painted at the time. 250 actors in authentic costumes populate the historical park on a rostered basis. They engage in activities appropriate to the era, employ 1850s technology and bespeak contemporary social values and attitudes. Even the sounds of Sovereign Hill are what you might have expected to hear at the time - working steam engines, stamper batteries, horses' hooves, passenger coaches etc. The complex is essentially divided into four parts - the Diggings 1851-1855, the Township 1854-1861, the Chinese Village 1859, and the Sovereign Quartz Mine, covering the period1861 to 1918. The Red Hill Gully Diggings reflect the earliest days when prospectors arrived from around the world to garner the alluvial gold. You can see the simple dwellings they lived in, the types of goldmining machinery they employed and the gold commissioner's camp. Visitors are encouraged to pan for gold in the creek. Gold can be purchased at the Waterloo Store and the Lemonade Tent sells old-fashioned lemonade on Sundays and on holidays in the summer. The Township is a recreation of the emerging city indicating the support services that emerged with the influx of people to the goldfields. The shops of Main St sell the types of goods that would have been available in the 1850s - ironware, tin and brassware, saddlery, pottery, woodworks, confectioneries, printed material, draperies and various grocery and toiletry items. You can take a ride on a coach from 10.30 a.m. daily, watch craftsmen working at traditional pursuits (such as sweet-making, baking, horse-shoeing, pill-rolling, coach-wheel making and wood-turning) with period tools, have your photograph taken in period dress at the Red Hill Photographic Rooms, and visit the stables, newspaper office, apothecaries, a period cottage, a slab hut, the tentmaker, the watch and clockmakers, the timber merchants, bank, gold office, mechanics' institute and free library, foundry, furniture warehouse and fire station. There are also free shows in the theatre on most days. At this time, between one-sixth and one-quarter of the population was Chinese although they were forced into six separate protectorates or villages from 1855 due to the hostility of the Europeans. Especially appointed government protectors determined that this was the best way to avoid the kind of conflict which generated the Lambing Flat riots (see entry on Young ). As the Chinese were forbidden from camping within 250 metres of a European dwelling the Chinese Village (a recreation of the original Golden Point Village) is at a remove from the main street of the complex. There is a Chinese store, a scribe, a herbalist, miners' tents and a Joss House (temple). TheSovereign Quartz Mine reflects the period when mining shifted from small-scale alluvial and shaft mining to corporate deep-lead mining aimed at extracting the gold which was buried deep underground in quartz reefs (c.1860-1918). The dominant feature is the enormous poppet head and opposite is a Mine Information Centre which can shed light on the fine collection of working steam-driven machinery such as the stamper battery, the engine house, the winder and the Cornish beam pump. You can also take a tour below ground through a 600-metre shaft. Here you will see displays and dioramas illustrating the chronological development of quartz mining technology and the conditions under which miners worked. When the underground tunnel was being dug the workings of the North Normanby mine were discovered and incorporated into the present mine display. The Secret Chamber offers a multimedia 10-minute special effects presentation to tell the story of the Chinese on Ballarat's goldfields (also available in Mandarin and Cantonese) and, at the Sovereign Quartz Mining Company Gold Smelting Works, visitors can witness molten gold being poured into a bar or ingot.

There are lots of government buildings that can be fun to see but, otherwise it is quite boring. The Australians say that everyone who lives in Melbourne leave when they can because there is nothing to do

Bendigo is a charming and elegant rural centre with an economy which is driven by a mixture of tourism, industry and servicing the surrounding agricultural district. The Bendigo Easter Fair, operating since 1871 and climaxing with a famous parade featuring historic Chinese processional dragons, is a popular annual event, as is the NEC Bendigo Cup in November. The Australian Sheep and Wool Show is held on the third or fourth weekend in July each year.

Cohuna is an immaculate and peaceful little town of some 2200 people situated on the Murray Valley Highway, 265 km north of Melbourne and 80 m above sea-level. Adjacent the main road is a portion of Gunbower Creek, an anabranch of the Murray River. Sandwiched between the creek and the main body of the Murray River, 8 km to the north, is Gunbower Island and Cohuna is the main access point to the island's many attractions. Cohuna is flanked by lush pastures which have been generated with the assistance of the Torrumbarry Irrigation System. They have been put to good use by the district's many dairy cows. Pigs, cattle, wool and timber also contribute to the local economy. The town has a caravan park attractively situated on the banks of Gunbower Creek. The area is thought to have been occupied by the Baraparapa people long before white settlement and prehistoric burials of world importance were found locally in 1925 and in the late 1960s.