Striking it lucky in the Golden Triangle
Tucked away along quiet winding roads that lead off the Wimmera Highway lies a swag of historic little townships located in what’s known as the Golden Triangle of the Victorian Goldfields. For ‘would be’ prospectors or those simply looking for a peaceful getaway this area has no shortage of fascinating and free places to camp. From a quiet riverbank campsite to a tranquil bushland setting amongst gnarly majestic trees there’s something for everyone in this golden area.
Tarnagulla
In 1852 a group of miners heading to the Korong goldfield stopped to camp near the creek opposite where the Tarnagulla golf course is now located. There they discovered gold. Quickly the area developed into the Sandy Creek diggings and attracted over 5000 miners. As the surrounding area became fabulously rich the town known as Sandy Creek grew quickly with many buildings still there today. In 1860 the town was renamed Tarnagulla and today supports just a few hundred residents but the heritage trail offers a great chance to explore the history and imagine how life would have been in busier times.
There are more than 30 beautifully preserved buildings telling a story of the past. Stroll through quiet streets and soak up the gold mining atmosphere of days gone by. On Sundays you can drop into the Community Centre for coffee and cake near the picturesque gardens in town where you can take a seat and a photo in the Kangaroo Chair. This ‘chair’ was built as a symbol of our natural environment and represents the spirit of federation within the Loddon Shire. Not far from town is the Tarnagulla Camping Reserve, located around the oval and bordered by bushland. At $5 a night, with the convenience of toilets and hot showers, it’s a bargain and a perfect place for families with walking and bike paths providing easy access to the centre of town.