Positioned midway between Bendigo and Ballarat, Maryborough is located in the heart of Victoria’s Golden Triangle. It’s clustered with heritage cottages and elegant public buildings and is home to an award-winning railway station that boasts the longest platform in country Victoria.
Things to do in Maryborough
Occupying a historic fire station that dates back to 1861, the Central Goldfields Art Gallery showcases the work of artists living in the region. Browse the landscape paintings, sculptures and textile works that form part of the permanent collection or coincide your visit with one of the touring exhibitions that are regularly presented at the gallery. Artist talks are also held throughout the year, as are educational programs for kids.
You can delve into Maryborough’s gold mining past at the Worsley Cottage Museum Complex, which comprises a beautiful bluestone building and the 1844 Squatter’s Slab Hut. It’s the oldest known building in the town, with a shingle roof and rammed earth floor among its features. Worsley Cottage’s exhibits include period furnishings and mining artefacts, as well as historic maps of the goldfields.
A short drive south of Maryborough is the Goldfields Reservoir, where you’ll find a nature-inspired playground and picnic facilities. It’s a popular spot for swimming in the summer months and is ringed by a 1.7-kilometre-long walking trail. Keep an eye out for the old gold diggings that line the trail and soak up the views across the reservoir’s wetlands from the wooden bridges.
Getting around Maryborough
Maryborough is around an hour’s drive from both Bendigo and Ballarat while Melbourne Airport is two hours away. Regular trains from Melbourne’s city centre connect to the Maryborough railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Maryborough is compact enough to explore on foot.