Daylesford, Victoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daylesford Victoria
Daylesford as seen from Wombat Hill
Daylesford Location in Shire of Hepburn
Population	2,781 (2021 census)
• Density	76.82/km2 (199.0/sq mi)
Established	1852
Postcode(s)	3460
Elevation	616 m (2,021 ft)
Area	36.2 km2 (14.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	114 km (71 mi) NW of Melbourne 43 km (27 mi) NE of Ballarat 37 km (23 mi) S of Castlemaine 3 km (2 mi) S of Hepburn Springs
LGA(s)	Shire of Hepburn
County	Talbot
State electorate(s)	Macedon
Federal Division(s)	Ballarat
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 15.5 °C 60 °F 7.0 °C 45 °F 882.4 mm 34.7 in
Localities around Daylesford: Hepburn Hepburn Springs Coomoora Eganstown Daylesford Musk Musk Vale Musk Vale Musk

Daylesford is a special spa town in Victoria, Australia. It's about 114 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, nestled in the hills of the Great Dividing Range. The town was first started in 1852 as a place for gold mining.

Today, Daylesford has a population of 2,781 people, based on the 2021 census. It is one of Australia's few spa towns, making it a popular spot for tourists. People love visiting its many spas, restaurants, and art galleries. There are also beautiful gardens and cozy bed and breakfasts to enjoy.

The area around Daylesford, including Hepburn Springs to the north, is famous for its natural spring mineral spas. More than 80 percent of Australia's bubbly mineral water comes from this region. Daylesford was also used as a filming location for the TV show The Saddle Club (season three) and the 2004 movie Love's Brother.

Daylesford's History

J. Tenseld, Main Street, Daylesford, 1862, State Library of Victoria

Before Europeans arrived, the Djadja Wurrung people lived in this area. In 1838, farmers settled in the Jim Crow and Upper Loddon regions. An Irish immigrant named John Egan settled on the land in 1848. This area was then known as Wombat Flat.

In 1851, John Egan and his group found alluvial gold near what is now Lake Daylesford. This discovery started a local gold rush. More gold was quickly found. Because of the gold, a town was planned and founded in 1852.

Between 1851 and 1859, Daylesford grew a lot. By 1859, the town had about 7,000 people. Miners from all over the world came to this town, which had muddy streets and many hotels. The town was first called Wombat, but later its name was changed to Daylesford.

After the gold rush, farming became important. Many Chinese miners started growing vegetables. Early European settlers, especially Italians, began planting vineyards. In 1859, the town's post office opened, and a telegraph office followed in August 1859. Daylesford became a municipality (a self-governing town) in 1859.

The Lost Children of Daylesford

On June 30, 1867, three young boys got lost in the bush near Daylesford. Their names were William Graham (6), his brother Thomas (4), and Alfred Burman (5). People searched everywhere for them, but sadly, their remains were found on September 13, about 10 kilometres away.

Today, there is a park and a memorial to remember the boys. There is also a 16-kilometre walking trail called the "Lost Children's Walk." The Daylesford Primary School gives out a special award each year, the Graham Dux Award, in their memory. This award has been given since 1889.

Later Years and Changes

By the 1860s, most of the easy-to-find alluvial gold was gone. Miners then started digging for gold in quartz reefs. This type of mining continued on and off until the 1930s.

Later, Daylesford became known as a popular spa resort. However, during the Great Depression, fewer people visited, and the town's popularity as a resort declined.

Daylesford's Climate

Daylesford is about 616 metres (2,021 ft) above sea level. This means it has a cooler and wetter climate than Melbourne. In summer (January–February), temperatures usually range from 10 to 37 °C (50 to 99 °F). In July, temperatures are cold, usually between 1–2 °C (34–36 °F) and 9 °C (48 °F).

The town gets about 880 mm (35 in) of rain each year. Sometimes, it even snows. The amount of rain can change a lot, from 445 mm (17.5 in) to over 1,350 mm (53 in) in a year.

Economy and Tourism

Lake Daylesford

Aerial panorama of Lake Daylesford in summer, 2018.

The Daylesford-Hepburn Springs area has 65 mineral springs. This means it has over 80 percent of Australia’s known mineral water springs. Because of this, the region has many spa places. These include the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, Mineral Spa at Peppers Springs Retreat, and Salus Spa at Lake House.

The town also hosts several fun events each year:

• The ChillOut Festival is held in March. It is the biggest LGBTQ festival in rural Australia.
• The Harvest Week Festival celebrates local food and produce.
• Lavandula's Festivals celebrate lavender.
• The Hepburn Springs Swiss Italian Festival celebrates the town's Swiss-Italian history.
• The annual Daylesford Highland Gathering features pipes and drums, dancing, and Scottish clubs.

Today, the main jobs in Daylesford are in healthcare, hotels and restaurants, and retail (shops).

Schools in Daylesford

Daylesford State School (b. 1875) post card

Daylesford has several primary schools and one public high school. The high school is called Daylesford Secondary College. It started in 1890 as a mining school. In 1961, it became the only high school in the Shire of Hepburn. It has over 500 students.

Daylesford Primary School is the oldest primary school in the town. Other primary schools include St. Michael's Primary School and Daylesford Dharma School. Daylesford Primary School holds an annual book fair. This fair started in 2010. People donate used books, and the money raised helps improve children's reading skills.

Getting Around Daylesford

Aerial perspective of Daylesford Boathouse

The Midland Highway goes right through Daylesford. It connects the town to Castlemaine in the north and Ballarat in the south-west. The Western Freeway is the main road to get to Daylesford from Melbourne.

The railway line to Daylesford closed in 1978. However, the Daylesford Spa Country Railway still runs a special tourist train on Sundays. It goes to Musk and Bullarto.

Sports in Daylesford

Daylesford has an Australian Rules football team. It also has a netball team. Both teams play in the Central Highlands Football Netball League.

The town is also home to the Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club. They are known as the Saints. The Saints have won four league titles and two cup finals in their 20-year history.

Recent Event

The Royal Hotel at Daylesford

In November 2023, an accident happened at the Royal Daylesford Hotel. A car crashed, and sadly, five people died. This event was very upsetting for the people living in the small town.

Famous People from Daylesford

Many notable people have connections to Daylesford:

• David Allison – A politician.
• Keith Bradbury – Also a politician.
• David Bromley (born 1960) – An artist who worked in Daylesford.
• Sebastian Ulick Browne – The 12th Marquess of Sligo.
• Peter Corrigan – An architect.
• Josh Cowan – An AFL Footballer.
• Bessie Lee Cowie – A campaigner for temperance (avoiding alcohol).
• Charlie Foletta – A VFL Footballer.
• Joseph Furphy – A novelist.
• Jack Gervasoni – A VFL Footballer.
• Chris Grant – An AFL Footballer.
• Geraldine Hakewill – An actress.
• Lynda Heaven – A politician.
• John Stuart Hepburn – An early farmer and landowner.
• Merv Hobbs – An AFL Footballer.
• Simon Holmes à Court – An entrepreneur and founder of Climate 200.
• Sir Charles Hotham – A Governor of Victoria.
• George Raymond Johnson – An architect who designed The Daylesford Town Hall.
• Samuel Johnson – An actor and radio presenter.
• Michael Leunig – A cartoonist.
• Peter Loney – A politician.
• Cecily Maude O'Connell – A trade unionist and social worker.
• Charlie Pannam – A footballer.
• Ambrose McCarthy Patterson – A painter and printmaker.
• Alfred Cecil Rowlandson – A publisher.
• Edward Russell – A trade unionist.
• Jack Stevens – A Major General in the Australian Army.
• Eugene von Guerard – A painter.
• Karl von Möller – A film director and cinematographer.
• Ferdinand von Mueller – A botanist.
• Abigail Wehrung – A basketball player.
• Carl Willis – An Australian sportsman.
• Mark Leonard Winter – An actor.

Images for kids

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  Daylesford circa 1908

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  Park in autumn