Daylesford Victoria | |||||||||
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![]() Daylesford as seen from Wombat Hill | |||||||||
Coordinates | 37°21′0″S 144°09′0″E / 37.35000°S 144.15000°E | ||||||||
Population | 2,548 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||
Established | 1852 | ||||||||
Postcode(s) | 3460 | ||||||||
Elevation | 616 m (2,021 ft) | ||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Shire of Hepburn | ||||||||
State electorate(s) | Macedon | ||||||||
Federal division(s) | Ballarat | ||||||||
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Daylesford is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, within the Shire of Hepburn, and about 108 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. The town was first settled in 1852 as a gold-mining town. There were 2,548 people living in Daylesford in 2016.
The area around the town, including Hepburn Springs to the north, is known for its natural spring mineral spas. Over 80 per cent of Australia's sparkling mineral water is found in this area.[2]
Daylesford is one of Australia's few spa towns. Many people visit for the spas, as well as the restaurants and galleries. It is also the filming location for the third season of The Saddle Club.
The area was the home of the Djadja Wurrung Aborigines. Farmers began to move into the district in 1838. In 1848, Irish immigrant John Egan took up land on the future town site then known as Wombat Flat. He and a party of searchers found gold in 1851 on land now covered by Lake Daylesford. This started a local gold rush. More gold was found around the area. The town site was surveyed and founded in 1852. At first the town was called Wombat, and later renamed Daylesford.[3]
In 1859 there were 3400 people digging for gold. The post office opened on 1 February 1858 [4] and a telegraph office was opened in August 1859.[5] Daylesford was declared a municipality in 1859 and a borough in the early 1860s.[3]
By the 1860s all the alluvial gold had been found. Large mines were built to get the gold that was found underground in the quartz reefs. Mining continued until the 1930s. In later years Daylesford became associated as being a fashionable spa resort, this ended during the Great Depression.[3] In the 1990s it became fashionable again.
The Daylesford Magistrates' Court closed on 1 January 1990.[6]