Goldfields on path to World Heritage Listing

DIGNITARIES representing all three levels of government were out in force at Central Deborah Goldmine last week to celebrate the announcement that the Victorian Goldfields has been officially included on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

The Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan was front and centre, alongside Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek, the mayors of both Bendigo and Ballarat, Cr Andrea Metcalf and Cr Tracey Hargreaves, plus Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters and State Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards.

The development is considered to be a promising step on the road to the goldfields receiving a World Heritage Listing.

Six sites across the region have been included in the Tentative List, with three additional places identified as being subject to further investigation and the possibility that other sites may also be added.

Over the next 12 months all possible sites will be assessed in preparation for the Victorian Goldfields bid, to be submitted to UNESCO in February 2026 with a final outcome likely to be determined after mid-2027.

Cr Metcalf said securing the listing was a long process, but the announcement represented a significant milestone.

“In 2020, international world heritage expert Barry Gamble confirmed the Victorian Goldfields was the best surviving landscape from the nineteenth century gold rush anywhere in the world,” she said.

“This validation propelled the efforts of the 15 councils involved to continue our push to celebrate and protect this outstanding example of global significance.”

Ms Plibersek agreed that the region is “the most extensive, coherent and best-surviving gold rush landscape in the world.”

“It deserves to be celebrated and protected. Just like the unique landscapes of Cape York, the deep history of Murujuga, or the mining towns of South Australia, our government is supporting a diverse range of truly special places to be recognised on the world stage,” she said.

Ms Chesters said the region achieving World Heritage status would encourage more visitors to stay and learn more about the area’s story.

“A successful bid will be great for many local businesses in our diverse and dynamic hospitality and tourism industry,” she said.