Kyneton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kyneton Victoria
Looking along Piper Street, Kyneton
Kyneton Location in Shire of Macedon Ranges
Population	7,513 (2021 census)
• Density	76.74/km2 (198.8/sq mi)
Established	1850
Postcode(s)	3444
Elevation	520 m (1,706 ft)
Area	97.9 km2 (37.8 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	86 km (53 mi) NW of Melbourne 68 km (42 mi) S of Bendigo 77 km (48 mi) NE of Ballarat 37 km (23 mi) SE of Castlemaine
LGA(s)	Shire of Macedon Ranges
County	Dalhousie
State electorate(s)	Macedon
Federal Division(s)	Bendigo
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 18.5 °C 65 °F 5.6 °C 42 °F 753.4 mm 29.7 in
Localities around Kyneton: Malmsbury Edgecombe Sidonia Lauriston Kyneton Pipers Creek Spring Hill Kyneton South Pipers Creek

Kyneton (pronounced KYNE-tən) is a lovely town in the Macedon Ranges area of central Victoria, Australia. It's located on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung people. The main highway, the Calder Freeway, goes around Kyneton.

The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street, and High Street. Piper Street is the oldest and still has many of its original buildings. Kyneton is about 86 kilometers from Melbourne by train. It's also the main town for the Shire of Macedon Ranges council. In 2021, about 7,513 people lived in Kyneton.

History of Kyneton

Early Days and Settlement

The land around Kyneton belongs to the Djadjawurrung and Taungurong Indigenous Australian people. Before European settlers arrived, these groups lived mostly along the Coliban and Campaspe Rivers. They had village-like communities, especially where these rivers meet. They used large stone ovens built into the ground to cook food like meat and a plant called murnong.

In 1836, Major Thomas Mitchell, a surveyor, explored this area and named the Campaspe River near where Kyneton is now.

The first British settler to live in this area was Charles Ebden. In May 1837, he started a sheep station called Carlsruhe, about 6 kilometers south of today's Kyneton.

Growth and Gold Rush Era

Kyneton was founded in 1850, even before Victoria became a separate colony and before the big gold rushes started in 1851. This makes it older than many other towns in the area. One of Kyneton's oldest buildings, the Church of England Rectory on Ebden Street, was started in 1850. It's a rare example of a building from before the gold rush.

During the gold rush, Kyneton became a very important stop for people traveling to the goldfields at Mount Alexander and Bendigo. The town's post office opened in 1843, first called Mount Macedon, then renamed Kyneton in 1854.

Local Government and Famous People

Kyneton got its own local government in 1857. Over the years, it joined with nearby areas to form the Kyneton Shire. In 1995, Kyneton Shire became part of the larger Shire of Macedon Ranges.

Some interesting people have lived in Kyneton:

• Joseph Furphy, a famous writer, went to primary school here in the 1850s.
• In 1857, Caroline Chisholm, a humanitarian who helped many people, moved her family to Kyneton.
• The Kyneton Mounted Rifle Corps was formed in 1859. This was a group of volunteers who helped protect the colony. Many members later fought in important battles like the Battle of Beersheba (1917).
• Henry Gregory (politician), a politician from Western Australia, was born and grew up in Kyneton.
• Sir Stanley Argyle, who was the Premier of Victoria from 1932 to 1935, was born in Kyneton in 1867.
• Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Hurry, a commander in World War I, was born and died in Kyneton.
• The Kyneton Courthouse is famous because it tried the bushranger Ned Kelly in 1870 for robbery. Today, it still works as a court on Mondays.

Population

In the 2021 Census, Kyneton had 7,513 people. Most people (79.5%) were born in Australia. The next biggest group (4.2%) was born in England. Almost everyone (89.1%) spoke only English at home. When asked about religion, 48.2% said they had no religion, 20.7% were Catholic, and 9.2% were Anglican.

Notable Residents

Media

Kyneton has its own local newspaper called the Midland Express, which also covers the nearby areas. You can watch TV from Mount Alexander. There's also a community radio station, 100.7 Highlands FM, which is based in Woodend.

Climate

Kyneton has a mild climate, similar to a Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm summers and cool, wet winters. Mornings can be quite cold, even in summer. Cold fronts (weather systems that bring colder air) happen often throughout the year. Light snowfalls can happen sometimes in the cooler months, and sleet (rain mixed with snow) is common.

Tourist Attractions

Autumn in the Kyneton Botanical Gardens.

Kyneton has many interesting places for visitors to explore:

• The Kyneton Botanic Gardens were started in the mid-1800s and are a beautiful place to visit.
• You can enjoy walks along the Campaspe River.
• The town hosts various Farmers Markets and festivals throughout the year, making it a popular spot for a day trip.
• Kyneton is also a great starting point to visit nearby places like Trentham Falls and Hanging Rock.
• Other attractions include Black Hill Reserve, Bald Hill Reserve, Green Hill, Turpin Falls, Kyneton golf course, and Kyneton Ridge Winery.
• The Kyneton Museum, located in an old bank building from 1856, has a large collection of items from the town's history.

Because Kyneton is far from big cities, it has very little light pollution. This makes it a great place for astronomers to see the night sky clearly, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. The Cobaw Plateau nearby even has a large facility for observing stars and planets.

Arts and Culture

The Macedon Ranges area, where Kyneton is located, has many artists. Kyneton is a lively center for artists and craftspeople, known for its beautiful changing seasons and friendly cafe scene.

Kyneton is where the yearly Lost Trades Fair and the Daffodil Festival began.

The town is home to many art galleries and artist studios, such as:

• Stockroom
• The Old Auction House
• The Golden Dog Gallery
• Art on Piper
• Lauriston Press
• John Lloyd Gallery
• Colours of White

The Macedon Ranges also has two special art events: the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges Open Studios and the Macedon Ranges Arts Trail.

You can also find charming bookstores and many excellent cafes in Kyneton.

Education

Kyneton Mechanics Hall

Kyneton is a central place for education for students from Kyneton and surrounding towns. Here are the schools and colleges in Kyneton:

• Kyneton Primary School
• Our Lady of the Rosary, Kyneton
• Kyneton High School
• Sacred Heart College, Kyneton
• Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT), which has a training center at the Kyneton Racecourse.

Sport

Kyneton has a strong sports scene:

• The town has an Australian rules football team, Kyneton Football Club, which plays in the Riddell District Football League.
• The Kyneton District Racing Club hosts about sixteen horse racing events each year, including the Kyneton Cup in November.
• Golfers can play at the Kyneton Golf Club on Black Hill Road.
• Kyneton also has a football (soccer) team called "The Rangers" that competes in the Melbourne Division 3.
• The Kyneton Croquet Club is the oldest Croquet club in Victoria.

Heritage Listings

Kyneton has many buildings and sites that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites: