Talbot

Maryborough, Victoria, Australia
Talbot |Carisbrook | Dunolly | Bealiba | Moliagul

TALBOT

Talbot is situated between Clunes and Maryborough and is considered to be the southern gateway to the Central Victorian goldfields.  It is a town worth exploring, less than two hours from Melbourne and 40 minutes from Ballarat.

Gold was first found in 1854 and a settlement began to emerge on the diggings which was then known as Back Creek.  After the 'Scandinavian' rush of 1859 the present township  began.  Following a visit by the governor of Victoria in 1861 the name of the settlement was changed in honour of an English peer named Talbot.

There were initially 15 000 people on the field with five banks, possibly 49 drinking establishments, a brewery, and numerous stores and businesses scattered along six streets.  The population dropped to 3000 or 4000 by the mid-1860s by which time more substantial brick and bluestone structures had begun to replace the canvas and timber.  At that time there were 16 hotels, a courthouse, a town hall, soap and candle factories, flour mills, a theatre and a gas works.  Cohn Brothers soft-drink manufacturers of Bendigo was founded at Talbot in 1861.

Today, Talbot's population is about 300, with a further 600 people living in the immediate area.

Once you know where to look you'll find surprises everywhere.... from a fine sculpture and art gallery nestled in bushland at Adelaide Lead - to the remains of gold rush townships such as Amherst.  The friendly locals issue a warm welcome, eager to share their knowledge of Talbot's history with visitors.

Quartz Mountain (The Big Reef) at Amherst, the site of a massive gold rush in the 1850's, is the largest expanse of quartz reef remaining in Victoria. 

The Museum in Talbot houses an impressive collection of memorabilia and a vast array of early photographs.  Open Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm or by appointment, the Museum is an excellent example of Talbot's historic architecture. It also offers an attentive genealogy service to those researching their ancestry.

From the Talbot Museum, a walking tour of Talbot township reveals grand  heritage buildings largely untouched,  leaving the visitor with a nostalgia for the past.

District accommodation options range from caravan park and motel, to bed & breakfasts and farm stays.  The hotel offers great old-fashioned pub meals, whilst takeaway food is available from the corner store.  Great espresso coffee, cake and light lunches are available from Quince Farm Café at London House or Red Geranium Café .

New, antiquarian and second-hand books are now available in the recently restored old general store.
Talbot Farmers Market held on the third Sunday of every month is fast becoming one of the most popular farmers markets in the region. It has a great variety of fresh gourmet foods, organic produce and local wines.

Take a step back in time to the gold rush era when you visit Talbot and the surrounding areas of Amherst and Adelaide Lead.

Things to see in Talbot

Talbot Museum
Camp Street
Opened in 1984 in the former Primitive Methodist Church it contains a wide range of items and photographs from the past and many mining relics.
Open to the public every Sunday 1pm-4pm or by appointment ph (03) 5463 2578

Walking tour of Talbot
Visitors can enjoy guided walking tours from the museum 

Talbot Farmers Market
Scandinavian Crescent
Phone: Tiffany (03) 5464 7272
Website: www.ballarat.com/talbot/farmers_market
3rd Sunday of the month
10 am to 2 pm

Talbot Yabbie Festival
Annually on Easter Saturday.  For more on this event and others follow the above link.

London House - Visitor Information Centre & Talbot Online 
Scandinavian Crescent
Phone: (03) 5463 2002
Local products, brochures walking tours and maps.
Open Wed- Sun

Old lock-up
Bluestone lock-up, now privately owned.  Inspection by appointment.
Phone: (03) 5463 2217

Amherst Winery
Located 4 km from Talbot on the Talbot- Avoca Road, Amherst.
Renowned for fine Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Talbot Railway Station Gallery, Museum & Nursery
Today the Station houses a custom framing studio with an extensive range of matt boards and frames, and an inexpensive plant nursery, with a vast array of succulents.
  Follow the  link to find out more. 

http://ralph.durr.googlepages.com/home

Possum Gully Road Fine Art Gallery
428 Possum Gully Road, Adelaide Lead

Stoney Creek Oils 
145 Davies Road, Talbot
Phone: (03) 5463 2340
Email: admin@stoneycreekoil.com.au

Website: www.stoneycreekoil.com.au
 

Stoney Creek Oil Products, renowned for quality, freshness and good old fashioned service, developed the Stoney Creek small batch cold pressing process to bring you the highest quality flaxseed oils and meals without the loss of any natural goodness.  Find Stoney Creek Oil products on sale at London House at factory door prices.

Talbot Golf Club
Talbot/Lexton Road, Talbot

Phone: (03) 5463 2222

Picturesque 18 holes, (sandscrapes) open March - November.
The golf course also has a hall available for hire with full bar & kitchen facilities
to book  hall ph Secretary (03) 5461 5354

Other sites of interest

Chinese baths

Aboriginal Shelter Tree

Gold diggings

Mount Greenock Geological Reserve (Major Mitchell monument and views)
Mount Glasgow Scenic Reserve and lookout
Amherst Reef Geological Reserve (Quartz Mountain)
Amherst Reservoir Bushland Reserve
Tunnel Hill Bushland Reserve

Basalt culverts

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