Goldfields World Heritage listing a step closer

THE push for the Victorian Goldfields to secure a World Heritage listing has moved a step closer, with the region now included on Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List. 

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the move today. 

“From the historic streets of Bendigo to the grand buildings of Castlemaine and the untouched mining landscapes of Walhalla, the Goldfields stand as a living testament to those who came to Victoria seeking a better life and how they transformed the state,” Ms Allan said. 

“World Heritage sites are on bucket lists of tourists worldwide, and our historic Goldfields are on their way to be right there among them – helping to draw in more visitors from all corners of the globe and inject millions into our regional economies.” 

The Goldfields cover more than 20 per cent of Victoria and are said to contribute more than $1.8 billion in tourism spending to the regional economy each year. 

If formal UNESCO World Heritage listing is achieved, an additional 2.2 million visitors over 10 years is expected. 

Six areas have been included in the Tentative List submission, with the possibility of more being added as the nomination is developed. 

They are Creswick and the Deep Lead Landscape, the Bendigo Historic Urban Landscape, the Castlemaine Goldfields and Historic Townships, Great Nuggets Historic Landscape (Tarnagulla, Moliagul and Dunolly), Lalgambuk (Mt Franklin) and Walhalla Alpine Mining Landscape. 

Other places mentioned in the Tentative List submission for inclusion at the World Heritage nomination stage, which will be developed in 2025 to 2026 include Ballarat Historic Urban Landscape, Beechworth Historic Township and Sluicing Landscape, and Whroo and the Balaclava Open Cut Mine.

The long-running push for a listing is a joint effort by the federal and state governments, Indigenous groups, 15 local councils and others. 

The City of Ballarat, the City of Greater Bendigo, Central Goldfields Shire and Macedon Ranges Shire are among the councils involved. 

From this point, achieving a full World Heritage Listing can take three years. 

The World Heritage designation is for places considered of outstanding universal value to humanity, which are included on the list for protection and appreciation. 

It was the discovery of gold in Ballarat in 1851 that sparked the Victorian gold rush, enticing more than 6000 miners from around the world to make their way to the area. 

The Victorian Goldfields region encompasses Ballarat, Bendigo, as far north as Echuca, and west towards the Grampians, Beechworth and Gippsland. 

“The Victorian Goldfields tell so many stories – of waves of immigration; of building beautiful towns from a harsh landscape, that have stood the test of time,” said Ms Plibersek.

“Of the local First Nations people who cared for and tended the land for tens of thousands of years. 

“It is the most extensive, coherent and best-surviving gold rush landscape in the world. 

“It deserves to be celebrated and protected.”