Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Clunes Historical Buildings Walk

The first gold in Victoria was found here, and Clunes is a great example of a town from the gold rush era, still relatively unchanged. If you love a mosey around the streets of a quiet old village, with some very cool buildings - Clunes is for you. With most of the historic buildings set in the 2 main streets, you can explore the area easily on foot.
Grab a map from the Museum/Information Centre and off you go.
We started in Bailey St, where the 1872 built Town Hall and Court House is located. Clunes Town Hall

Next door,  the impressive bluestone St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Clunes St Thomas Aquinas Catholic ChurchOn the corner of Bailey and Templeton is the former Free Library, built sometime in the 1870's and featuring an unusual double gabled roof.
Clunes Free LibraryThe grand Post Office, with its lavish Palazzo design, was built at a time when the streets of Clunes virtually flowed with gold.
 Clunes Post Office
The RSL was once the London Chartered Bank.
 Clunes RSL
 
Fraser St  has rows of timber shopfronts on both sides of the street, some with verandahs over the footpath. Although relatively quiet when we have visited, the town does come to life in spectacular fashion for the annual Booktown Festival.
Clunes historic buildingsThe wide streets of Clunes played a part in Mad Max - where Toecutter's gang came to town. A town steeped in history of many different genres. A town worth a visit for many different reasons.
Clunes historic buildings

The School of Mines, where local miners were taught mining techniques.
Clunes historic buildings
The old saddlery has a Wild West feel about it.
The Central Garage still has the ghost signs of its heyday and the Mobil flying horse sits proudly on its facade and rooftop.
Clunes historic buidlingsAnd if you're looking for a tree change, the former State Bank is currently for sale. The original bank counter and vault are still intact and the bank was once made famous in the Ned Kelly film, starring Heath Ledger.
If anyone out there is looking for a grand site for their next hospitality venture - this place looks perfect and could be a big drawcard for tourists to visit this lovely old town.
Related: can someone lend me $780,000?
Clunes historic buildings

What: Clunes Buildings 
Where: Fraser St, Clunes
When:Daily  
Why: history, architecture
How Much: FREE   
Nearby:Clunes BooktownClunes Goldtown



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