Buninyong Historic Walk

Once more prosperous than Ballarat, the township of Buninyong, located 13km south of the city, is now a crossroads of historic buildings, cosy cafes and beautiful botanic gardens. It may be a small town, but there's a wide choice of cafes, shops and galleries, plus plenty of places to explore on foot.

Considered the first inland town in Victoria, Buninyong's interesting name comes from an Aboriginal word 'Buninyouang', which means 'man lying on his back with his knees raised', and refers to the shape of nearby Mount Buninyong.

The 3.5km Historic Buninyong Walk is a rewarding way to stretch your legs and get a grasp on local history. Most buildings along the route are highly preserved displays of Buninyong's proud but short-lived gold prosperity; like the mock masonry and timber facade of the Mechanics Institute (1861) - imported from England at great expense.

While most of Buninyong's historic buildings are now privately owned, many are open for business in various guises. Highlights of the walk include the Crown Hotel, built in 1885 and holder of the first hotel license for an inland hotel, and Buninyong Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest in Victoria.

Start at the Crown Hotel, 508 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong.

Map of Buninyong Historic Walk Route

1. Crown Hotel (1885) Warrenheip Street The original (1851) two story wooden hotel on this site was home to many civic events and meetings. But it was destroyed by fire in 1884. The present brick hotel was quickly rebuilt and has operated continuously since then.

2. De Soza Park
3. Mechanic's Hall
4. Whykes Grocers
5. Corner Shop
6. Glencairn
7. Clifton Villa
8. Hiscock's House

9. Old Post Office (1874) Learmonth Street
Replacing many smaller unofficial post offices, this building served as the Buninyong Post Office from 1874 until it closed in 2000. It is now a private residence. The current post office is in Warrenheip Street.

10. 405 Learmonth St
11. Dr Longden's House
12. RSL Memorial Park
13. Masonic Lodge
14. Netherby
15. Holy Trinity Anglican Church
16. Camelia Cottage
17. Police Station
18. Presbyterian Church
19. Presbyterian Manse
20. Buninyong Botanic Gardens
21. Sandstone Building
22. Buninyong Brewery
23. The Gong
24. Golden Nugget Hotel
25. Civic Centre
Town Hall and Court House (1886) Learmonth Street
The Italianate-style Buninyong Town Hall is an excellent example of impressive colonial goldfields architecture. Originally the building was of three sections, with the hall in the centre, the Council offices to the right and the courthouse to the left. Today, the hall hosts the annual Film Festival and many other community events, while the old Courthouse is the home of the Buninyong & District Historical Society.

26. Whykes' Butcher's Shop (1893) Learmonth Street
The Whykes family purveyed meat to the residents of Buninyong from 1864 until 2000. The landmark two-storey red brick building is now a coffee shop/bistro.

27. Eames Store

28. National Bank (1866) Learmonth Street
Banking services started in Buninyong in 1859 when the National Bank of Australasia opened an agency at the corner of Learmonth and Warrenheip Streets. The bank purchased the site from John Adams who conducted the bakery and general store next door. The present fine building was opened in 1866. It was closed as a bank in 1974.

29. General Store
30. Eagle Hotel (1858) Warrenheip Street
This ornate gold-boom building is classified by the National Trust, and has columns and various carved heads on the facade. After the fire of 1899 it continued as a hotel until 1917. Since then it has had many commercial occupants.

Adams' Store (1852) Learmonth Street
This iconic weatherboard building, originally a store and bakery, was built by John Adams who, from 1855, was also Buninyong's postmaster. Other later owners were J. W. Wilson, Percy Lyne, and the Eames family who operated the bakery and store from about 1930 to 1989. In recent years the store and adjacent building have been converted to business premises.

Old Police Court House (1858) Cornish Street
Built of sandstone on the site of the early police camp set up to administer law and order on the local goldfields, it fell into disuse when the new Court House opened in 1886. Later it was used as a butter factory and then a council works depot. The restored Court House was opened in 1995.

Location

508 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong 3357 View Map