Town’s audio tours help visitors keep ear to the ground

LINTON’S rich history is being shared with locals and visitors in an innovative and accessible way.

Last month, Linton and District Historical Society launched self-guided audio tours of the town.

The tours offer on-foot and behind-the-wheel guides of the town’s heritage and key locations such as the Avenue of Honour.

They are based on information from the 2011 book An Historic Walk-Drive Tour of Linton and District from Dr Jill Wheeler and Del Atkinson.

Gillian Fraser, vice-president of the Linton and District Progress Association, suggested using the book for the tours after encountering similar approaches overseas.

“Audio tours allow visitors to explore Linton at their own pace and in their own time, creating a more personal and flexible experience,” she said.

She said the tours provided an immersive experience about Linton’s goldrush history and its aesthetic charms, encouraging visitors to spend time in the town.

“The second and third tours reveal parts of the district that many people would otherwise never discover,” Fraser said.

“Including places of remarkable beauty such as Linton’s Avenue of Honour, which is one of the most striking avenues of honour in Victoria.

“The material was chosen to highlight stories, locations and people that would be of interest to visitors, while also preserving details that are especially meaningful for those with family connections to the district.”

She said visitors often remarked not only about the town’s character, but residents’ friendliness.

“The tours offer a unique way to experience both the history and the atmosphere that make Linton such a special place.”

Linton residents and visitors trialled the tours and gave feedback to refine the experience.

Funding from Golden Plains Shire Council’s Community Strengthening Grant supported the project.

Posters and flyers have been placed across Linton with information on how to access the tours via Guidemate.

A quiz is also being developed with answers to be found along the tours.

More information is available at Guidemate, the society’s Facebook page and lintonhistory.org.au