Hepburn Springs, Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hepburn SpringsVictoria |
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Main Road
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 Hepburn Springs
Location in Shire of Hepburn
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| Population | 631 (2021 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 3461 |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Hepburn |
| State electorate(s) | Macedon |
| Federal Division(s) | Ballarat |
Hepburn Springs is a special resort town in Victoria. It's famous for having the most mineral springs in Australia! You can find it about 48 km northeast of Ballarat.
In 2021, Hepburn Springs had a population of 928 people. The town is named after Captain John Hepburn. He was an early "squatter," which means he settled on land that wasn't officially his yet. The original owners of this land are the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
Hepburn and Hepburn Springs are like twin towns. They are often called Hepburn Springs together. Long ago, Hepburn Springs was known as "Spring Creek." Hepburn was called "Old Racecourse." Both towns were part of the Jim Crow Diggings. In the 1850s, many miners came here. They were from places like England, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France. The Hepburn Post Office opened in 1854. The Hepburn Springs Post Office opened later, in 1908.
Today, Hepburn Springs is known as a spa town. People visit to try the natural mineral waters. They also enjoy the many shops and places to relax.
Most buildings in Hepburn Springs have an Edwardian style. This is different from the Victorian style in nearby Daylesford. This is because a big bushfire in 1906 destroyed most buildings. After the fire, new buildings were built in the Edwardian style.
Hepburn Springs is located in the Wombat State Forest. It sits between two old volcanoes, Mt. Franklin and Wombat Hill. The area has lots of mineral water. This is because of its volcanic past and how far it is from the Great Dividing Range.
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Mineral Springs of Hepburn
In 1864, people in Hepburn Springs wanted to protect their mineral springs. They asked the government to stop mining near the springs. They believed the water was more valuable than gold! So, the Hepburn Mineral Spring Reserve was created in 1865. Many people living there came from places in Europe known for spas. They knew how important the springs were.
A bathhouse was built in the 1890s. It has been updated many times. The newest version opened in 2008. There are several springs in the main reserve. These include Soda, Sulphur, Pavilion, Locarno, and Wyuna springs. Other springs nearby are Golden Spring, Hendersons, and Lithia Spring.
Swiss and Italian Culture
The influence of the Swiss Italians of Australia is still strong in Hepburn Springs. These were Italian-speaking people from Switzerland and northern Italy. You can see their influence in family names and the names of springs like Locarno. Buildings like the Savoia Hotel and Parma House also show this heritage. The town even has an annual Swiss-Italian Festa!
The Savoia Hotel and the Macaroni Factory were central to the Italian-speaking community. The Savoia Hotel is named after the royal family of Italy. It used to have an Italian reading library. Across the street, Lucini's Macaroni Factory made pasta. This factory moved from Melbourne in 1865. It was the first pasta factory in Australia, starting in 1864. Other families like Vanzetta, Crippa, Perini, and Gervasoni also contributed to the community.
A special local food is "bullboar." It's a sausage made from beef, pork, garlic, and spices. In 2005, students from Daylesford Secondary College made bullboars. This helped bring attention to this unique food. The Slow Food Movement has even called bullboar an "endangered recipe."
A book called Bullboar Macaroni and Mineral Water by Clare Gervasoni tells the story of the Swiss Italians in the area. In 2007, the Melbourne Immigration Museum had a special exhibit. It was called "Wine Water and Stone" and showed the Swiss and Italian history of Hepburn Springs.
Historic Places
Hepburn Springs has seven sites listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. This means they are very important historical places. They include:
- The Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, which has the bathhouse and pavilion.
- The Hepburn Pool, which was named Victoria's Favorite Built Place in 2004.
- Parma House.
- The Blowhole Gold Diversion Tunnel, where Chinese miners changed the path of the Jim Crow Creek.
- The Former Macaroni Factory, which is still owned by the Lucini family's descendants.
- The Jim Crow Creek Gold Mining Diversion Sluice.
- The Breakneck Gorge Puddling Site, near the Blowhole.
Other important local sites include the Savoia Hotel, Wyuna, Mooltan, the Grande, the Palais, Dudley House, Mineral Springs Hotel, and the Breakneck Gorge culvert.
Fun Things to Do
The Palais is a very popular place for music and fun. It often hosts famous Australian and international musicians. The Palais was a popular dance hall from the 1920s to the 1950s. It has a special wooden floor that's great for dancing!
The Laurie Sullivan Reserve is a nice place for walks. Many trees there were planted by Laurie Sullivan. Some are now memorials to local people who helped develop the reserve.
Hepburn Springs is well-known for health, well-being, and great food. You can find many day spas that use the mineral water. There are also lots of restaurants, cafes, hotels, and guesthouses.
The town is surrounded by the Hepburn Regional Park. Here, you can go for short or long bushwalks. You'll see old gold mining water channels and more mineral springs.
Playgrounds are available at the Hepburn Mineral Spring Reserve and the Laurie Sullivan Recreation Reserve. You can also find barbecue facilities at the Hepburn Mineral Spring Reserve and the Hepburn Pool.
Sports in Hepburn Springs
The local Australian Rules Football team is called the Hepburn Burras. They play at the Laurie Sullivan Recreation Reserve. They compete in the Central Highlands Football League. In summer, the Hepburn Cricket team also plays at the reserve. Both the football and cricket clubs have been very successful recently.
If you like golf, you can play at the Hepburn Springs Golf Club on Golf Links Road.
Famous People from Hepburn Springs
- Lisa Gervasoni – An artist and planner.
- Robert Walls – A famous AFL coach and player.
- Victor Zelman – An artist.
- Richard Pleasance – A musician.
