World Heritage Bid
A UK World Heritage expert has described the landscape of the Central Victorian Goldfields as the best-surviving example from the 19th century gold rush in a key document that explains why the site is significant and should be given UNESCO World Heritage listing.
The City of Greater Bendigo and City of Ballarat are currently leading a campaign on behalf of 13 councils – including Central Goldfield Shire - across the Goldfields region to inscribe significant gold rush-era sites on the World Heritage list.
The Central Victorian Goldfields World Heritage bid local government partners are: Ararat Rural City, Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Bendigo, Golden Plains Shire, Hepburn Shire, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire, Mount Alexander Shire, Northern Grampians Shire and Pyrenees Shire councils.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor and VGTE Chair and Central Goldfields Shire Mayor, said “The exciting feature of this massively transformative project is not only the huge impact it will have both on local and cross-regional visitor economies, but the positive contribution to regional regeneration, prosperity and opportunity.
“Importantly the journey starts right now as we build the excitement of people to visit and discover the proposed World Heritage landscape and in doing so creating a much-needed boost to industry in the COVID recovery period.”
Funding boost
In July, 2020 Council welcomed $50,000 in Victorian Government funding across 11 councils to help build the capacity of the region’s visitor economy, with improvements aimed at supporting a future World Heritage Listing bid for the Central Victorian Goldfields.
The funding, from the Victorian Government’s Stronger Regional Communities Program (SRCP) will support the development of a Sustainable Tourism Toolkit, which will help identify gaps across the region that when addressed will encourage visitors to explore the whole region.
New, dedicated website
Funded by the Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive (VGTE), the goldfieldsworldheritage.com.au site was launched in December, 2020 and is the latest iteration of the bid.
It provides fascinating insights into the discovery of gold in Victoria, the world-wide significance of the Victorian goldrush and the epic bid for World Heritage listing.
For more information and updates on the World Heritage Bid visit goldfieldsworldheritage.com.au or follow the Goldfields World Heritage Bid Facebook page.