AN annual event celebrating Australia\u2019s longest-surviving ghost town is set to return later this month.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
There\u2019ll be stalls and competitions while Steiglitz\u2019s four public buildings, two churches, courthouse, and blacksmith\u2019s cottage, will be opened to the public with historical records and archival photos on show.<\/p>\n
Kathy Mar, president of the Back to Steiglitz Association, has lived in the town for more than 20 years after growing up at Balliang.<\/p>\n
She said it\u2019s the significance behind the town\u2019s history that\u2019s kept her as part of the organising team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a great community atmosphere,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lovely place and when it was in its heyday there was about 3000 people there.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy neighbours when I was a kid, their grandparents grew up at Steiglitz so there\u2019s been that connection for me all along.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those in the township, it\u2019s important for us to preserve the history and culture behind the town. That\u2019s why we stay here and that\u2019s why we do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steiglitz was a prominent goldrush site during the second half of the 1800s.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Held on a smaller scale since COVID, Ms Mar said the association will soon need to revive itself with new members.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur core member setup has dwindled a little over the years and we\u2019re all getting a bit older,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore COVID we had a billy kart race and more stalls but we just don\u2019t have the organisational manpower for it now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is to have things a bit more lowkey until we can get some new people in. There\u2019s not a lot of changing in people in the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people that do come don\u2019t have the same connection to the town so it takes them a bit longer to get into our rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Back to Steiglitz event will run on Sunday 29 October from 10am to 2pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AN annual event celebrating Australia\u2019s 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\u2019ll be stalls and competitions while Steiglitz\u2019s four public buildings, two churches, […]<\/p>\n