Heritage

Hepburn Shire has a rich cultural history which began with our Traditional Owners and includes the influx of migrant communities during Victoria’s gold rush era. Our cultural diversity is preserved and celebrated in many ways, from festivals and events through to museums and the work of historical societies.

Traditional Owners

The Dja Dja Wurrung people are the Traditional Owners of the majority of the Hepburn Shire area and the original inhabitants of our region. Dja Dja Wurrung country incorporates a large portion of land in the Central region of Victoria between the Avoca and Loddon Rivers. Hepburn Shire Council acknowledges the traditional owners of the land and pays its respects to Elders both past and present.

Council also acknowledges and celebrates dates on the Indigenous calendar providing support to community groups, schools and organisations to host events and activities.

Important dates on the Indigenous calendar:

National Sorry Day – 26 May

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May-3 June

NAIDOC Week – 3-10 July

For further information visit Recognition and reconciliation.

Creswick, Clunes and Daylesford museum collections

Hepburn Shire's three community museums are at Creswick, Clunes and Daylesford. They are staffed by committed volunteers. Information is available online by following the links below.

www.creswickmuseum.org.au

www.clunesmuseum.org

www.daylesfordhistory.com.au 

Heritage places and local heritage studies

Hepburn Shire has a number of sites of local, state and national significance. Several heritage reports and studies are located on our Heritage services page. To access information on heritage places in Hepburn Shire listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, visit the Heritage Council website.

Swiss Italian culture

Hepburn Shire is home to the descendants of many people who migrated for gold or to escape political upheaval and persecution in Europe. The region is proud of its Swiss Italian heritage and its distinctive architecture and culture, which is still clearly obvious throughout the Shire. The annual Hepburn Swiss Italian Festa has been running since 1993.

Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid

A World Heritage listing of Australia’s Central Victorian Goldfields aims to share the extraordinary story of the Central Victorian Goldfields with people from across the globe and to create social, cultural and economic opportunities for every community and person across the region. To achieve this, a program is underway to get the bid to tentative listing stage for consideration by the State of Victoria and Australian Governments. Developing the bid includes growing the region’s profile, building local capacity and attracting investment to deliver world-class visitor offerings and, ultimately, securing World Heritage listing. Find out more about the World Heritage bid.

     

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