Rushworth located north east of Bendigo is in the centre of Victoria's gold and ironbark country. A town classified by the National Trust, Rushworth is a gold mining town of great historical character and appeal.

Under European settlement Rushworth began as The Waranga Mining District when in 1853 miners travelling through the area were shown gold pieces by local Aboriginals who led them to the site and the mining boom soon begun.

As gold seekers flocked to the district Gold Commissioner Horne named the town Rushworth and there are two explanations for the chosen name, first that the Commissioner deemed the gold rush there 'worth while' another that claiming the town was named after fellow passengers on the ship which brought Commissioner Horne out from England.

Gold was found in almost every hill and gully in and around Rushworth and a settlement began in an area known as Nuggetty 1.5 km east of present day Rushworth. Rushworth's High Street began soon after the 1853 Goldrush, the street was surveyed in 1854 and by 1858 the southern end of High Street was home to a large Police Camp and wooden court house, five hotels, two breweries, twenty tradesman shops, seven large stores, two banks and gold brokers.

By the 1880s there were 14 substantial brick buildings in the town. Built of Rushworth-made bricks all of these buildings were architectural gems of their day and reflected the great confidence in the future at the time. The arrival of the railway to Rushworth in 1890 brought the centre of business to the northern end of High Street and the township continued to flourish.

Historical Attractions

Rushworth has a wealth of heritage buildings and other historical structures which date back to the early development of the district and the subsequent gold rush boom times of the 1850s.

Rushworth has one of the State's largest designated Urban Conservation Areas and a number of the town's primary historical attractions have been classified by the National Trust including St Paul's Church of England (circ 1869), The Band Rotunda (circ 1888) the Imperial hotel built in 1854 and now used as a private residence.

Behind St Paul's Church visitors will find the original Rushworth cemetery and the site of the Devon Mine while The Glasgow Buildings (1911) and the Whistle Post (1906) are another of Rushworth's historical attractions.

Rushworth's Whistle Post is the only signpost classified by the National Trust. The sign indicated to Traction Steam Engine Drivers that they were required by law to blow a whistle here to warn horse-drawn vehicles of their arrival.

Risstrom's Sawmill located in Taylor Street is another of Rushworth's attractions. The town once boasted at least seven sawmills which were used to process the district's ironbark a particularly valuable hardwood used for posts, railway sleepers and poles because of its resistance to termites and decay. Risstrom's Sawmill is the last of Rushworth's sawmills, the mill was converted to electricity in 1990 but until then was powered by steam using its original traction engine.

Many other areas of Rushworth have been recorded as having a particular historical charm. These areas of special significance are where both heritage and modern buildings contribute to the streetscape and have been protected by the issuant of an Urban Conservation Order. Urban Consrvation areas include the Rushworth Secondary College (1872) Waranga Shire Hall (1869) the Rushworth Court House (1870) as well as the Criterion Hotel established in 1856.

"Guide to buildings" is on sale at cafes and other outlets throughout the main street. This s helpful guide book details a number of Rushworth's main attractions including their location, origin and other points of interest.

Located 7km south of Rushworth is the historic Whroo Ghost Town. The town once at the centre of the gold boom now serves only as a tourist attraction where visitors are able to learn of gold rush times which began simultaneously with those of Rushworth in 1853.

Whroo is now a deserted Ghost town, all of the 139 buildings which lines the town streets have been demolished or relocated, howver much atmosphere and many other attractions remain.

Within the town visitors can see the Balaclava Open-cut mine, the Aboriginal waterhole and a range of mining equipment including puddling machines. A historic cemetery remians as do a number of trees which mark the former gardens of homesteads and public buildings in the township. Pepper-corn trees, underground wells and grassy clearings mark the sites of hotels and homes in the once booming township while six sugar gums planted in a row mark the site where the Whroo Mechanics Institute and Library once stood.

Four large pine trees mark the site of the four acre garden which at one time ajoined the homestead of John T Lewis the owner of Whroo's famous Balaclava Mine, while the waterhole from which Whroo was named also remains on the outskirts of the Balaclava mine.

During the year the forest surrounding Whroo also provide visiotrs with a spectacular show wildflowers, flowering shrubs and a range of magnificent trees and delicate flowers bloom in the areas where gold was once dug.

Another interesting site just south of the township of Rushworth is the Eucalyptus oil distillery. Eucalptyus oil is obtained from the blue mallee gum and visitors are welcome to visit the distillery located off Whroo Road to learn about the oil making process.

Museums

Rushworth Museum is located in the former Mechanics Institute in High Street. Visitors will find the museum displays an interesting collection of artefacts and items which capture the life and times of Rushworth from the last century to the modern day.

Natural Attractions

Situated on Growler's Hill once the site of early gold mines, The Lookout Tower provides visitors with expansive views of Rushworth including the Waranga Basin and the magnificent forest areas. Dunlop Hill also provides visitors with impressive views and during the springtime a spectacular wild flower display.

The Rushworth State Forest which covers over 24,300 Ha of reserved forest provides a pleasant areas for all kinds of activities. The forest also contains many relics of the goldmining that took place there in the mid 1800s.

The predominant forest trees are red ironbark, grey box and yellow gum while a prolific growth of wildflowers including terrestrial orchards can also be found in the forest particularly after spring rains. There are many beautiful varieties of flowers to be enjoyed on forest walks including wattles and grevilleas, daisies, black boys, heath, rice flowers and bush peas and the rich variety of plantlife also attracts a range of birds and other wildlife to the forests.

Over one hundred species of birds from tiny blue wrens to the majestic wedgetail eagle may be seen in the forest as well as the swamps and plains of Rushworth and surrounding areas. Wildlife including echidna, ringtail and brushtail possums, yellow footed phascogale, brush-tailed phascogale, grey kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos can also be seen in the forest.

The forest provides the ideal location for a range of recreational activities including nature walks and studies, leisurely drives and picnics. Many idyllic picnic spots within the forest are located beside tranquil waterholes some of which were dug by the early miners of the district.

The Waranga Basin is another of the district's attractions. One of the earliest irrigation projects in Victoria, the original 7km retaining wall was built in 1908. Water from the Goulburn Weir is fed into the Waranga Basin and from there to the Goulburn Valley and across northern Victoria to the Mallee enabling the rich dairy and orchard industry now the life blood of Goulburn Valley to flourish.

The Waranga Basin is a prime attraction among water sport enthusiasts, boating, skiing, fishing, sailing and safe swimming can all be enjoyed in the huge 59 sq km area of water. Numerous picnic spots and BBQ facilities are provided and there are also a number of boat ramps, camping areas and caravan park close to the water's edge.

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