About Dunolly x - click on photo to enlarge

• Population approximately 750
• 178 kilometres north-west of Melbourne
• Gold heritage abounds
• Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Djajawurrong clan Aborigines.
• Took its name from the Dunolly pastoral run which was named by Campbell McDougall after the seat of the McDougall clan – Dunolly Castle.
• One of the states earliest vineyards established 1854 here and only recently closed.

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The Dunolly and surrounding district turned up more gold nuggets than any other region in Australia. The largest gold nugget in the world, the “Welcome Stranger”, was found in 1869 in nearby Moliagul, the “Hand of Faith” nugget was found in Kingower 30 kms away in the 1980s. Waanyarra, about 10 kms up the road towards Tarnagulla, is now little more than some fading remnants of a town, but was once a bustling town, and is known to have produced the purest gold in the world, being 99.9% pure

The area bounded by Wedderburn in the north, Inglewood in the east and Dunolly to the south became known as 'The Golden Triangle'.

In its prime the main street, Broadway was several kilometers long. Firstly as a canvas town and then as the gold continued to be found, with the more permanent structures many of which remain today.
Today Dunolly's attractive main street is lined with kurrajong trees and gold rush architecture. The land is primarily used for farming.
Many still come to Dunolly to try their hand at prospecting, you can hire equipment in town. It is also a popular destination for cyclists. There are extensive cycle tracks in the area.

"From Maryborough, the traveller proceeds by way of Havelock and Bet Bet, to Dunolly and important town one hundred and twenty-five miles from Melbourne. It is situated between the Loddon and Avoca Rivers, and has around it a large farming and vine-growing district. In its immediate neighbourhood is the mining village of Goldsborough, at which is the famous Queen's Birthday claim, besides other rich quartz mines. In addition to gold the Dunolly reefs contain iron, manganese, copper, antimony, kaoline and slate. The town is well built and its roads are in excellent order."
- Extract from 'The Picturesque Atlas of Australasia' 1886

Activities and attractions

• Cycle the bicycle paths that form the Golden Triangle network linking the historic towns of Dunolly, Wedderburn and Inglewood
• See a replica of the world famous 69 kilogram “Welcome Stranger” nugget at the Golfields Historical Museum in Broadway, the main street.
• Try your luck at prospecting for gold – hire a metal detector and pick up a map from Dunolly's prospecting store.
• Grab your camera, a picnic lunch and your car keys and get in touch with your states gold rush history, by visiting towns (or their last remnants) such as Waarnyarra, Tarnagulla, Llanelly, Moliagul, Rheola (formerly Berlin Flat), Bealiba, Wedderburn, Inglewood and Kingower. You'll be richer for doing it!
  
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