Town to ready for reunion

AN annual event celebrating Australia’s longest-surviving ghost town is set to return later this month.

Held since the early 2000s, Back to Steiglitz will see visitors and descendants of past residents descend upon the town for a reunion aimed at showcasing its history.

There’ll be stalls and competitions while Steiglitz’s four public buildings, two churches, courthouse, and blacksmith’s cottage, will be opened to the public with historical records and archival photos on show.

Kathy Mar, president of the Back to Steiglitz Association, has lived in the town for more than 20 years after growing up at Balliang.

She said it’s the significance behind the town’s history that’s kept her as part of the organising team.

“It’s just a great community atmosphere,” she said. “It’s a lovely place and when it was in its heyday there was about 3000 people there.

“My neighbours when I was a kid, their grandparents grew up at Steiglitz so there’s been that connection for me all along.

“For those in the township, it’s important for us to preserve the history and culture behind the town. That’s why we stay here and that’s why we do this.”

Steiglitz was a prominent goldrush site during the second half of the 1800s.

With the site managed by Parks Victoria and supported by the Back to Steiglitz Association, funds raised on the day will go towards the upkeep of the public buildings.

Held on a smaller scale since COVID, Ms Mar said the association will soon need to revive itself with new members.

“Our core member setup has dwindled a little over the years and we’re all getting a bit older,” she said.

“Before COVID we had a billy kart race and more stalls but we just don’t have the organisational manpower for it now.

“The idea is to have things a bit more lowkey until we can get some new people in. There’s not a lot of changing in people in the district.

“The people that do come don’t have the same connection to the town so it takes them a bit longer to get into our rhythm.”

The Back to Steiglitz event will run on Sunday 29 October from 10am to 2pm.