2025
YOUR OFFICIAL INVITATION TO EXPLORE EXCITEMENT IN THE LODDON
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Explore the blue plaques of Pyramid Hill - charming reminders of times past
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Discover William Vahland's buildings - the premier architect of the Victorian goldfields
Winter in the Loddon region is generally a time for indoor recreation –although a brisk Saturday afternoon spent at a local football and netball match is an experience to be savoured. Winters can be testing when the southerlies rush headlong across the plains and whip around the area’s stunningly beautiful rocky outcrops, so checking out the many delightful indoor activities is a welcome and worthwhile respite.
Our pubs and cafes are a good place to start, with historic places like the stunning Art Deco Bridgewater Hotel overlooking the Loddon River, and charming old pubs in the heart of Inglewood, Pyramid Hill, Boort and Wedderburn, which features one of the town’s striking bird murals.
Explore the region’s excellent museums and stores, such as the many antique and collectables shops on Inglewood’s main street, as well as its stunning streetscapes, with living history in the form of blue plaque trails through Pyramid Hill and Inglewood.
The Loddon’s wineries are welcomjng places in winter, with their cellar doors open and warm. Try some of the classy red wines produced in the region and fortify yourself for more adventures to come. And if the weather is fine, which it is more often than not during the winter, there’s a chance to discover walking and cycling trails through Loddon towns and countryside. There are few greater pleasures in winter than getting you limbs moving under the warming glow of a low sun in a brilliant blue sky.
There’s not too much mystery about an Arnott’s biscuit tin, let’s face it.
Generations of Australians have enjoyed the company’s products, and noticed the distinctive parrot on the logo. But do they know the story behind the parrot’s presence.
A former Arnott’s employee visited Inglewood Emporium recently and saw the display of historic tins, and he explained the significance of the parrot.
You will notice it sits on a T-shaped perch – and somewhat tortuously it spells out the company’s motto.
Bear with us here: “On this T sits the best Polly I see.”
And that, dear friends, translates to
“Honesty is the best policy.”
This brown rectangular box with its accompanying pipes looks like a primitive set of scales.
And that is essentially what it is.
This is a chondrometer, dating probably to the late 19th century, and now for sale at Inglewood Emporium.
It was used to weigh and evaluate the bulk density of grain, which was a measure of wheat quality.
These days, a digital scale is more likely to be used for the purpose, but this venerable object shows the ingenuity of earlier days.
The two pipes were screwed together, and the grain was fed in to be graded.
Walk along the wide, quiet streets of Pyramid Hill and cast to your gaze to the buildings you pass by. It seems that almost every one of them is adorned with a blue plaque telling the story of a family, a business or the structure itself. In 2023, the local historical society began erecting these charming reminders of times past, and now there are 32 charting the history of the town.
The majority of Pyramid Hills plaques are located along Kelly and Victoria streets, the heart of the town and the scene of its commerce to this day. Some of the properties still operate in their original form, including the pharmacy and the butcher, which still advertises its specials on chalk boards adjacent to the historical plaque.
Others, like the narrow shopfront at 7 Kelly St, have had a myriad of uses — it has been a dentist's surgery, a
bakery shop, a barber's shop, a frock shop, a residence, a solicitor's office and a gift shop.
Next door at 5 Kelly St is an op shop that used to be the office of Pyramid Hill’s plumber. At 22 Kelly St is a home that was moved from the nearby town of Durham Ox when the railway reached Pyramid Hill in 1884. It was a fruit shop initially, then a saddlery and harness business, a hardware shop, and a ladies’ hairdresser.
The Pyramid Hill Store, on the corner of Kelly and Victoria streets, is probably the most striking of all of the town’s buildings, surrounded by a cloister-like arcade and built in the fashionable Mediterranean style in 1933 after the previous department store on the site burnt down. The clock tower adds a sense of solid community pride to the store, which today is a supermarket. Nearly are the sites of the town newspaper, the Pyramid Hill Advertiser, which closed in 1971, and the doctor’s residence, used by almost 20 medicos over the years, and now a private home.
The solid, substantial Victoria Hotel is another rebuild after a fire, in this case in 1926. The imposing structure you see now emerged two years later. Further along Victoria St is Gregory’s Shop and Undertaking. In
1886 a local cabinet maker and builder purchased a horsedrawn hearse and began his undertaking business. The funeral business lasted until 1998, ending the oldest family business in Pyramid Hill.
There are rooming houses, a coffee palace, a boot emporium and more along the street. The John McKay residence was built by the brother of Hugh V. McKay, inventor of the famous Sunshine harvester, and later became a private hospital. The stories are so varied, and so full of life that it’s sometimes hard to recognise them as coming from this now quiet, reserved town.
In Inglewood, too, back on the Calder Highway, 52 blue
plaques tell their tales, with Brooke St, the town’s main thoroughfare, lined with historic buildings. Inglewood’s streetscape is remarkably well preserved and the plaques represent a kind of living history. There are grand places, such as the historic home ‘Nimmitabel’, which featured recently in the ABC program Restoration Australia, and the impressive town hall, virtually opposite.
Family stories abound. Joseph Arthur Tivey, son of Joseph Tivey snr, who built ‘Nimmitabel’, raised his own lovely home further down Verdon St. It’s a solid brick building with a lattice-work veranda that speaks of the family’s wealth and prominence in Inglewood. Charles Ansett, father of Sir Reginald Ansett, the airline founder, had a cycle business along this street. All five of his children were born in Inglewood. A string of notable buildings run either side of Brooke Street, many of them with
their original verandas, and many now used as antiques and collectables shops, making Inglewood one of Victoria’s prime destinations for people hunting a treasure among the old wares. The impressive two-storey Empire State Hotel was built in 1882 to replace the original building destroyed by fire. The balcony was added in 1927. The Pelican Hotel dates to before 1860 and was the Cobb & Co. coach office, with extensive stables and yards through to the next street. The Royal Hotel was built of weatherboard in 1860, the oldest public house in Inglewood, and was one of many buildings consumed by Inglewood’s own Great Fire in 1862.
The more substantial brick building was opened in 1863, with a Masonic Hall and even a bowling alley within. Stroll around any of Inglewood’s charming streets and you are sure to come across a place telling a fascinating story of the town’s rich past.
Little Lake Boort is a delightful oasis with a rich heritage of Indigenous history. It’s easy to be seduced by the shimmering lake and all the activity that takes place on it, but it pays to take the time to slow down and explore further and see how much more there is to this delightful body of water.
A 3.7km lakeside walking and cycling track passes through wetlands and eucalypt forests with extensive evidence of ancient habitation in the form of middens and scar trees. Along with the sheer charm of the setting there is a wide range of animal and bird life to be encountered. Among other species, you will find fairy martins, black swans, dusky moorhens, turtles, water rats and at least six types of frogs.
And among these stunning reminders of an ancient past, and the prolific wildlife, you’ll come across a series of of monumental sculptures that add a quirky appeal to the natural beauty of the lake and its surrounds. The Boort Metal Sculpture Trail is easily accessed from the lakeside track, and features five artworks that seek to absorb some of the atmosphere the lake and its history creates.
Two of the sculptures are by the late Boort local John Piccoli, and three are by Bendigo artist Moz Moresi. Piccoli’s
“Past and Present’ sits at the corner of King Street and McMillans Road is a prime example of his distinctive style, using innumerable spanners to create something magical. It was designed to highlight the relationship between the Dja Dja Warrung nation, the original custodians of the land, and the first settlers, and to express optimism for the future.
Piccoli was also responsible for the ‘Spanner Chair” in Nolens Park — a huge chair composed of rusty spanners that was dedicated to the Piccoli family’s migration to Australia during the gold rush era. ‘Rusty Redfin’ is a mighty fish located along Fire Brigade Track. It is partly skeletal and partly intact, and wholly impressive; the first of Moresi’s contributions to the sculpture trail. The next is ‘Shag on a Rock’, drying its broad, rusty metal wings on a rock also located along Fire Brigade Track, just east of the town swimming pool and right on the shores of the lake.
‘Dragon Fly’ is the last of Moresi’s works, situated beside the boardwalk along Ring Road and rising from a large log. Like all of Moresi’s sculptures hereabouts, it brings to mind the giant mechanical creatures of science fiction — something from the rich imagination of H. G. Wells, perhaps. But these rusty treasures are perfectly suited to their environment, a nod to history and to the rich life that inhabits Little Lake Boort.
Experience the region’s winter charm at events like Keys of Gold in Inglewood, featuring beloved classical music, or the Both Banks Wine Release Day, with fine wine, live music, great food, and cosy fireside gatherings.
Cultural heartbeat
Participate on a Djaara cultural tour at Kooyoora State Park, or be enriched at the Wedderburn Coach House Gallery and the Inglewood Eucalyptus Distillery.
Epic burgers and nostalgia
Visit Eddington’s Eddy’s Garage for a nostalgic wonderland that serves up more than just atmosphere. The burgers are big, bold, and seriously delicious, and the venue is packed vintage flair and tropical vibes. Come hungry – and bring your ‘burger game’.
Heart-warming winter reds
Bird watching ‘twitching’
Vintage treasure hunting
Browse the vintage and collectables precinct in iconic Inglewood and unearth your own treasure piece.
Warm the heart and visit the regions cellar doors including Water Wheel Vineyard, Both Banks Vineyard, Old Kingower Vineyard, Black Wallaby Wines and Connor Park Winery.
Panoramic views
Escape into nature and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the northern Loddon region at Mount Hope, Terrick Terrick National Park and Pyramid Hill.
Join the ‘twitching’ craze and go bird watching across the Loddon region in the many state parks and reserves.
Unearth a gem
Fossick for gold in Wedderburn or Inglewood on a personalised tour with the Gold Nugget Hunter.
As the temperature drops, the Loddon Valley comes alive with rich red wines, misty morning views, and golden opportunities to fossick and explore.
Settle in for hearty pub meals, explore local culture, and soak up the rugged beauty of the land. From cellar doors to stories of gold, winter here is anything but cold.
The friendly Loddon Visitor Information Centre sta and volunteers are there to assist and make your visit and general travels in the Loddon region more memorable.
The centre provides quality information and brochures on accommodation, attractions, tours, events and activities throughout the Loddon Valley and surrounding region.
Drop in to see the friendly team 7 days a week.
It’s not hard to see why the Loddon region is at the heart of Victoria’s still thriving eucalyptus industry.
The landscape is alive to stands of beautiful blue mallee gums - eucalyptus polybractea, to give them their official botanical name. And not only are these lovely endemic trees easy on the eye, they also have valuable medicinal properties. Few Australian children have grown up without the powerful, comforting smell of eucalyptus being applied to their chests via Vicks Vaporub to help deal with coughs and colds.
Eucalyptus products can be found in gift shops throughout the area, and in the many collectables stores along Inglewood’s Brooke St, but a visit to the town’s Blue Lucy Museum is essentially to get a real sense of what is involved in the production of eucalyptus oil. The volunteer-staffed museum is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm, as well as on most public holidays. It’s a fascinating glimpse of all-things eucy.
Use the 2025 Loddon Valley O cial Visitor Guide to help you plan your next visit to and within the Loddon Valley.
The guide is your perfect travel companion and showcases leading tourism businesses, popular tours & trails and must visit experiences and attractions across the Loddon Valley.
Pick up a copy from the Loddon Visitor Centre in Wedderburn or at other leading tourism venues and Visitor Centres across the region.
Loddon Visitor Information Centre
03 5494 3489
24 Wilson Street, Wedderburn
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm
Sunday and Public holidays, 10am – 2pm
Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday visitloddonvalley.com.au
Inglewood and Wedderburn are the two main centres for blue eucalyptus in the state, with the Blue Lucy Museum in Inglewood a shrine to the production and its many uses. In Wedderburn, volunteers at Hard Hill Tourist Reserve brew eucalyptus oil in a “stew pot”, the delicious aroma permeating the air. The oil is used for unblocking noses, in laundry powders and cleaning products, as essential oils, and even to remove sticky labels from jars. Blue mallee oil is prized for its purity and its strength and is the most sought-after eucalyptus oil in the world.
Eucalyptus oil has been produced in Australia for more than 170 years, with the first oil produced by cutting by hand raw eucalyptus leaves using sickles and slashers, then distilling the oil in iron stills sealed with mud, using steam from a boiler to produce the valuable oil. Now, production relies on slashing gum leaves every couple of years and boiling them in a mobile still. It takes five kilograms of leaves to produce enough oil to fill a 50ml bottle.
The museum, which first opened in 2011, is home to a vast collection of historic items including old tools, oil bottles, artworks, news cuttings, photographs and other paraphernalia from the local industry dating from the 1800s, with multi-media displays and demonstrations. The museum collection also includes the heritage-listed ‘Old Jones’ Distillery which dates back to 1890 and is accessible to visitors. There’s a working model distillery producing oil, and visitors can “sniff test” different varieties of eucalypt. Selfguided tours are available at all times when the museum is open.
And there’s a well-stocked gift shop with a range of natural eucy products sourced from local producers, including Bosisto’s, the first distiller of eucalyptus oil in Australia. You can purchase eucalyptus soap, laundry products, essential oils, eucy honey, lip balms, insect repellents and atomisers - there’s even asmoked chilli sauce infused with eucalyptus, as well as eucalyptus and beeswax furniture polish. The museum also plays its role in the local cultural scene, with it a part of the Loddon Arts Trail in October, hosting a ‘eucy’ art show with a prize pool of $5000. Now there’s a fine reason to return in spring.
German-born architect William Vahland’s fingerprints are all over some of Bendigo’s most prominent buildings, from the imposing Shamrock Hotel and the Town Hall to Fortuna Villa and the Alexandra Fountain. To see his work is to understand why he was described as “the premier architect of the Victorian goldfields”.
Vahland, like so many others, came to seek riches by mining for gold. And, like so many others, he was unsuccessful. But he worked as a carpenter before opening an architecture business in 1856. And here he found fame.
There are more than 100 buildings attributed to Vahland in Bendigo, but his designs are also prominent in the Loddon region, and especially in the town of Inglewood, where he was responsible for more than a dozen buildings ranging from St Augustine’s Church of England (1864) to Inglewood Hospital (1883).
One of Vahland’s most spectacular Inglewood creations recently featured on the ABC’s ‘Restoration Australia’ program. Nimmitabel was built in 1881 for Joseph Tivey, a town merchant and operator of Tivey's Brothers store in Brooke St from 1860, as a grand home for his family, which included 13 children. It stands opposite the classically beautiful Inglewood Town Hall in Verdon Street, where Vahland was responsible for the design and construction of a new stage and strong room in 1891.
Some of Vahland’s architectural flourishes are somewhat quirky – he added a second storey to the Charlie Napier Hotel in Brooke Street in 1879 and oversaw the replacement of the Town Hall’s tin roof in 1892. A Miss Holden commissioned him to design Porter’s Drapery Emporium, on the corner of Verdon and Brooke streets, Inglewood’s most prominent intersection. It remained as a draper’s business until the 1950s, and is now a craft shop.
Vahland’s influence extends to six homes around Inglewood built to his design, but he also has connections with Wedderburn, further along the Calder Highway. The Carriers Arms was built in 1879 and renamed as the Commercial Hotel a decade later. Nine years after that, the wooden structure was destroyed by fire, the owner decided to rebuild it in brick.
The owner was Jacob Cohn, who had arrived from Europe on the same ship as Vahland in 1854. The two became close friends, and Cohn prospered as a cordial maker. He commissioned his friend to design the new Commercial Hotel. It closed as a hotel in 1921, and since then has been variously a private hospital, boot factory, dry cleaners, dressing gown factory, second-hand store and an electrical business. It remains today, solid and purposeful as ever, on High Street.
Tuesday – Open 2.00pm
Dinner from 6.00pm Trivia Night
Wednesday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
Dinner from 6.00pm
Pot’n’Parma Night
Thursday – Open Midday
Dinner from 5.30pm
Steak’n’Pot Night
Friday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
Dinner from 5.30pm
Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm
1874
With Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle
Saturday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
The friendly pub open for meals every day with Friday happy hour, raffles
Dinner from 5.30pm
Sunday – Open Midday
All Day Pizza Menu Close 11.00pm
Eat in our Lounge or Dining Room
The friendly pub open for meals every day with Friday happy hour, trivia, raffles and a chance to win $1,000
Trading hours
Monday – Open 3.00pm
Dinner from 6.00pm
The friendly pub open for meals every day with Friday happy hour, trivia, raffles and a chance to win $1,000
The Loddon region’s historic public halls all have great stories to tell of their origins and of their important roles in the communities they serve.
Pyramid Hill’s Memorial Hall turned 100 in April. It was built to honour the Anzacs and came into being only after five years of planning and fund-raising.
Tuesday – Open 2.00pm
Dinner from 6.00pm
WIN CASH WITH FRIDAY NIGHT JOKER POKER 3.00pm
Love your local pub!
Contact us today
20 VICTORIA STREET PYRAMID HILL 03 5455 7391
Beauty contests, sports meeting and “entertainments” were held to gather money for construction, with Miss Ruby Barber and Miss Annie L’Huillier battling for a 15-guinea prize in the beauty contest.
Wednesday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
Trading hours
Dinner from 6.00pm
Monday – Open 3.00pm
Pot’n’Parma Night
Dinner from 6.00pm
Thursday – Open Midday
Social Darts Night
Dinner from 5.30pm
Tuesday – Open 2.00pm
Steak’n’Pot Night
Dinner from 6.00pm Trivia Night
Friday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
Wednesday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
Dinner from 5.30pm
Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm
Dinner from 6.00pm
Pot’n’Parma Night
With Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle
Thursday – Open Midday
Saturday – Open Midday
Dinner from 5.30pm
Lunch from 12.00pm
Steak’n’Pot Night
Dinner from 5.30pm
Friday – Open Midday
Sunday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
All Day Pizza Menu
Dinner from 5.30pm
Close 11.00pm
Happy Hour 5.00pm – 6.30pm
With Hot Bar Snacks, Meat Raffle
Saturday – Open Midday
Lunch from 12.00pm
Dinner from 5.30pm
Building finally began in July 1924, and on April 22, 1925, the official opening was held, with Colonel Geoffry Hurry, commander of the Bendigo-based 38th Australian Infantry Battalion that fought bravely in France during World War I, the guest of honour. The gala ball held on the third night of festivities attracted 324 guests, and the local Pyramid Hill Advertiser newspaper breathlessly listed details of the gowns worn by 70 the ladies in attendance.
Miss L’Huillier, of beauty contest fame, wore “an ankle length frock of orange morocain finished with oriental and black fur trimming”. The days and nights of celebration took its toll on the citizens of Pyramid Hill, and there were reported to be many weary and sore heads about the town afterwards.
Tarnagulla’s Victoria Hotel & Theatre has a colourful history, reputedly hosting stage performances from
town have waiting for you at
artists as disparate as Dame Nellie Melba and the infamous Lola Montez. Montez – real name Eliza Gilbert, born in Ireland in 1821 – styled herself as a Spanish dancer and became Franz Liszt’s lover, and later the mistress of King Ludwig of Bavaria.
In 1855, after the end of her royal relationship, she toured Australia, performing her erotic and scandalous ‘Spider Dance’, during which she raised
her skirts so high that the audience could see she was wearing no undergarments. Most memorably, Montez horsewhipped the editor of the Ballarat Times newspaper after a bad review. It’s not recorded whether she performed the ‘Spider Dance’ to the good folk of Tarnagulla, but no doubt she caused a stir merely by stepping through the front door.
The building was opened in 1862, and today serves as a public hall, used for concerts, fairs and as the polling station at federal, state and local elections. The backdrop to the stage is a fine mural of the mining days, when Tarnagulla’s population was around 5000, and the surrounding countryside rang to the sounds of gold-seeking.
The tiny town of Yando, near Boort, boasts a beautiful hall that remains busy to this day. The hamlet only has a population of about 40 people, but a government historic report recorded that Yando had a school which ran from 1884 to 1957 as well as “a local hall, Methodist church and creamery”. Recently, actor and comedian Damien Callinan based an episode of his podcast ‘Hall Stories’ at Yando’s hall, drawing out tales from locals about the history of the town. One of the more intriguing stories raised the question: Will the hall feature in ‘Australian Country Wedding’ despite having drop toilets?
And Derby Public Hall is about as rustic as such places get, sitting proudly in front of two tennis courts just off the Calder Highway between Marong and Bridgewater. A vision in weathered corrugated iron, with a distinctive solid brick chimney, it is a glorious reminder of days past. For the record, the current population of Derby is less than 20.
Storm Lane
Inglewood
1 x 50kW Fast Charger
Plug type: 1 x CHAdeMO and 1 x CCS2/SAE
Cnr Burke St & Wimmera Hwy
Newbridge
1 x 50kW Fast Charger
Plug type: 1 x CHAdeMO and 1 x CCS2/SAE
Jacka Park/Chapel St
Wedderburn
1 x 50kW Fast Charger
Plug type: 1 x CHAdeMO and 1 x CCS2/SAE
The Loddon Valley is home to some award winning-wineries and a brewery, so why not enjoy a local drop whilst travelling throughout the region? You could also pair your meal at a pub or eatery with a drop of the regions braoder range of wine or beer.
Cellar Doors to visit
Water Wheel Vineyard
Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, and closed Sunday Lyndhurst Street, Bridgewater on Loddon • 03 5437 3060
Recreational reserve
Malone St
Please note there are strict rules regarding what you can and can’t dump at these points.
Permitted:
• Grey water
• Black water
• Chemical water treatment - used to prevent odours and aid breakdown of the waste
Not permitted:
• Disposable nappies
• Sanitary items
• Disposable wipes!
Boort Lakes Caravan Park end of the Boat Ramp Access Rd
Godfrey St
Pyramid Hill Caravan Park
Victoria St
Wedderburn Caravan Park
Hospital St
Both Banks Vineyard
Call to make an appointment
1164 Inglewood-Rheola Road, Kingower • 0429 330 456
Old Kingower Vineyard
Call ahead or visit in if the gate is open 14 Kingower-Brenanah Road, Kingower • 0419 524 991
Connor Park Winery
Open Monday – Friday 10am-5pm and Weekends 11am-5pm – call before visiting 59 Connors Road, Leichardt • 0408 375 202
Black Wallaby Wines
Call to make an appointment 38 Avondale Lane, Bridgewater North • 0448 917 105
Scan for more information on wineries and breweries to visit or where to try or buy.
The brand-new Loddon Valley Gold Prospecting Guide is a must-have for treasure hunters. Covering top prospecting locations, local visitor services, and the rich history of Loddon’s goldfields, this guide has everything prospectors need to start their search for gold.
Whether you’re a seasoned prospector or a curious beginner, this resource points you in the right direction to begin your gold prospecting journey in the famous Central Victorian Golden Triangle.
Since the signi cant 1850s gold rush, 80% of the world’s largest golden nuggets have been unearthed in central Victoria within the golden triangle.
The world’s largest alluvial gold nugget the ‘Welcome Stranger’, which weighed 2,284 ounces or 71kg, was unearthed in this region at Moliagul.
Grab a copy from the Loddon Information Visitor Centre in Wedderburn, local Welcome Shops throughout the Loddon Shire or in other accredited Visitor Information Centres throughout Central Victoria, or download a copy