Bendigo, Victoria, boasts a rich mining history, with various mining sites open for exploration. Notable sites in the region include the Central Deborah Gold Mine, which offers authentic underground tours showcasing the challenges miners faced during the gold rush era. This mine, which produced 929kg of gold, features heritage-listed buildings integral to its operation.
Another significant site is the Victoria Hill Reserve, an untouched relic from Bendigo's boom days. The reserve showcases open cut shafts, poppet heads, and a historic gold battery along walking paths carved through quartz reefs. The area once housed the world's deepest mine at 4,613 feet, earning it a spot on Australia's first pound note printed in 1913.
Rosalind Park, named with a Shakespearean touch, was the original tent settlement site when around 800 miners arrived. The park's poppet head, originally from the Garden Gully United mine—one of Bendigo's wealthiest—was relocated to the park in 1931. Additionally, the Fosterville Gold Mine stands as the largest gold producer in Victoria, Australia. Located 20 km from Bendigo, this high-grade, low-cost underground mine boasts profitable gold production and vast exploration potential within the mine and its surrounding district.
These mining sites offer a captivating glimpse into Bendigo's extraordinary mining legacy, providing visitors with a unique and informative experience.