Cosy retreats

Post Office Hill Action Group members look on as the new brochure is officially launched by local archaeologist David Bannear. Exploring our past

A small delegation gathered on Chewton's Post Office Hill last Friday for the launch of a new a brochure to encourage and guide walkers to fully explore the assets of the historic reserve.

The new resource produced by the Post Office Hill Action Group with assistance from 'Communities for Nature' was officially launched by local archaeologist David Bannear.

Mr Bannear’s research and knowledge of the local area and its history is legendary, and he was a co-launcher of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park in December 2002.

He said the site was significant as a remnant gold-rush landscape but also for its geological features. "Not everyone was a fan of Governor La Trobe but he set aside vast amounts of Crown Land such as this and we are fortunate to still have these goldfields remnants today," Mr Bannear said.

Rising from Forest Creek the picturesque site was home to Forest Creek’s first post office, a rich goldfield, a rapidly developed economic hub of the goldfields - including pubs, halls, Chewton Railway Station and Adelphi Theatre.

The site was also visited by Governor Hotham himself, La Trobe's predecessor, in 1854. Eventually all activity at the once bustling site ceased and it eventually became a tip site! What a history!

For a period Post Office Hill’s future was uncertain and a proposal to 'privatise' it for use as light industrial and housing saw the formation of POHAG – Post Office Hill Action Group.

This community group was formed to preserve the space for community usage and has since been licensed to manage Post Office Hill Reserve, all 22.6 hectares of it.

POHAG meets regularly, planning activities, walks, working bees, bird nesting box installations, plantings, weed removals, signage and even an orienteering event.

The group's latest offering has been 10 years in the making and was created using the detailed map charted by cartographer Mal (Jase) Haysom.

Using this map as a base, POHAG has finally produced a brochure to encourage and guide walkers to fully explore the assets of Post Office Hill Reserve.

You pick up the new brochure on site at the corner of Railway and Mitchell Streets, from Chewton Town Hall, Chewton Post Office and local tourist centres.

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