Located in the heart of Victoria's Goldfields region and central to Ballarat and Bendigo, Maryborough was immortalised by none other than Mark Twain who waxed lyrical about the impressive railway station.
Mark Twain once described Maryborough as a "railway station with a town attached". The historic railway station, which has one of the southern hemisphere's longest platforms, is now home to an antique emporium, art gallery, wood-work gallery and café. A quarterly antique market is held under the platform's broad roof, attracting thousands who browse collectables, books and old wares.
Many ornate gold rush-era facades sit alongside contemporary architecture and contain a myriad of hotels, craft shops, bakeries and cafés. The Central Goldfields Regional Art Gallery breathed life into the old fire station with its regularly changing contemporary exhibitions.
Prior to European settlement, the area was occupied by the Dja Dja Wurrong People. Head south out of Maryborough to the rock water wells along Wells Track, regarded as some of Victoria's best examples of Aboriginal rock water wells. Look out for the scarred trunks of 'canoe trees' in the area.
A trip out of town for a walk in the Paddys Ranges State Park is invigorating, or you can go fossicking for gold or fishing for trout in one of the nearby reservoirs.
The nearby Pyrenees wine region is conveniently accessible from Maryborough. Call into a cellar door or two to sample the regional wines. Set out on the Taste of Gold Trail and discover the fresh produce, specialty foods and fine wines that showcase the very best of the Goldfields region.
Maryborough is 165 kilometres north-west of Melbourne or approximately two hours by car via Kyneton and Castlemaine on the Pyrenees Highway or via Ballarat on the Western Freeway.
