Rich in gold history, Dunolly is situated in stunning bushland in the centre of Victoria's goldfields.
During gold rush times Dunolly and the surrounding district turned up more gold nuggets than any other region in Australia and became known as the “Golden Triangle”. Gold found in the area included the then largest gold nugget in the world, the 69 kilogram “Welcome Stranger”', which was found in 1869 in nearby Moliagul. See a replica of the famous nugget at the Goldfields Historical and Arts Museum and then try your luck at prospecting for gold. Hire a metal detector and pick up a map from Dunolly's prospecting store.
Today Dunolly's attractive main street is lined with kurrajongs and gold rush architecture. Take a wander along Broadway, pick up a brochure from the visitor information centre located in the Welcome Stranger Café, and learn about the historic Cobb and Co building and Railway and Royal hotels. Browse through the collectible shops as you explore.
Get on your bike and ride the Dunolly Cycle Tracks, a series of signed forest roads and tracks varying in length between 14 and 47 kilometres. As well as Dunolly, routes pass through the old gold towns of Tarnagulla, Bealiba, Waanyarra, Betley and Goldsborough.
Dunolly is 178 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, just under two hours by car. Take the Castlemaine exit off the Calder Highway and travel via Castlemaine, Maldon and Eddington.
