Maffra

Enjoy a scenic drive along Maffra's tree-lined nineteenth century main street and stay a while to explore a fascinating slice of history in Gippsland, Victoria. Maffra was named after the Portuguese town of Mafra by some early settlers who had reportedly fought in Spain and Portugal during the Peninsula War. In 1862 Maffra started to grow when a punt conveyed hopeful miners along the Macalister River to the goldfields. During the 1890s a sugar beet industry took off and operated until conditions and competition for labour from the dairying industry ended it after World War II. Visit the Beet Museum, which chronicles the early industry, as well as the cattle and dairying heritage of the district. Experience motoring history at the vintage car museum, or take a stroll to see the town's original shop verandahs and grand homesteads such as the Duart. Fish for seasonal trout along the Macalister and Thomson rivers, or travel north from Heyfield to Lake Glenmaggie for boating, waterskiing and camping. Cycle through dairy country with views of the Great Dividing Range along the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail. Visit Stratford Village on the Avon River for art and craft shops, antiques and bric a brac. Maffa is around two-and-a-half hours from Melbourne along the M1 and Princes Highway.