Bacchus Marsh Heritage Trail

First settled in 1836 during the Ballarat gold rush, Bacchus Marsh has a rich history of farming, transport, rail technology and geological significance. Many historic buildings remain in place and visitors and history buffs are sure to enjoy the many stories on offer along the Bacchus Marsh Heritage Trail.

The township of Bacchus Marsh is situated in the valley of the Werribee and Lerderderg Rivers, an area renowned for its fertility and geological significance. Kenneth Scobie Clarke was the first white settler in the valley, arriving in December 1836, settling on the banks of the Lerderderg River on land now owned by the Bacchus Marsh Golf Club. In 1838, Clarke moved to the Pentland Hills, leaving the valley to Captain William Henry Bacchus.

Highlights include the Avenue of Honour which commemorates those who served in World War 1, the Bacchus Marsh Courthouse established 1858, a Railway Turntable mid-1950s, and Station built in 1887 and The Chicory Kiln, built in 1885 to dry, grind and roast local chicory to sell in 'Dr Morse's Indian Root Pills.'

Download a copy of the Bacchus Marsh Heritage Trail or drop in to the Bacchus Marsh Visitor Information Centre, 215 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh.

Follow the Heritage trail for an insight into the town's history.

1. The Avenue of Honour (1918)
The avenue of elm trees serves as a tribute to local people who enlisted in the First World War. The original 281 trees were simultaneously planted on the call of a bugle on 10 August 1918 and numbered in alphabetical order.

The Avenue is significant - it is long, intact and is internationally recognised as a "Living Memorial". Worldwide, elm avenues are at risk from disease, or already lost! Bacchus Marsh is ensuring the Avenue's longevity - from basic tree maintenance to tree cloning programs and staged replanting. Take a stroll down the Avenue and experience its majestic canopy.

2. Bills' Horse Trough, 200 Main Street
The trough, outside the Royal Hotel, was donated by the Estate of Annis and George Bills. The estate was to "... construct, erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be needed ... for the relief of horses and other dumb animals".

3. Memorial to South African Volunteers, 156 Main Street
The granite fountain lists local members of the Victorian Mounted Rifles who were "...selected to serve their Queen and country in South Africa", in the Boer War of 1899-1902.

4. ANA Building, 154 Main Street
The Australian Natives Association ran sports meetings, provided reading rooms and billiard tables - in order to "keep young blokes off the streets". In 1904 the brick facade was added. At the end of the winter of 1931, a blackboard on a small easel ....(read).... "Billiards Final - ANA v Royal Oak - Friday night" (Legends from Benson's Valley, Frank Hardy 1963).

5. Border Inn (1851) (Flanagan's Hotel), 139 Main Street
Opened in 1851, the original licensee, James Watt and James E. Crook, Woolpack Inn (1843), have been credited with providing the first coach services in Victoria (6 Oct 1851). The Border Inn was an overnight stop during the Gold Rush for Cobb & Co. Coaches.

6. Bacchus Marsh Courthouse (1858), 123 Main Street
Built in 1858 of sandstone and used for trials by jury. At one period it was a Crown Land Sales office. Currently used as a Magistrate's Court.

7. Police Cells & Residence, 119 Main Street
The cells were relocated here from the Police Paddocks in Maddingley. There is speculation that 13 prisoners taken to Melbourne for trial some months after the Eureka uprising at Ballarat, had lunch in the sandstone cell while it was at Maddingley. The residence built in 1890 features fine decorative details, rail and finial on the table end with a fret work chrysanthemum motif.

8. Simon's Garage (and Peter Carey), 4-6 Grant Street
Simon's Garage (now BM Print & Copy) was the site of the first motor garage in country Victoria & built Monarch motorcycles and bicycles. In 1948, PS Carey bought the business; it was in the upstairs apartment that author Peter Carey lived as s child.

9. Lone Pine Memorial, 29-35 Grant Street
An Aleppo Pine, descendant of a tree from the WW1 Lone Pine battlefield at Gallipoli, Turkey, is in the grounds of the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Memorial Hospital.

10. Court House Hotel (1864), 116 Main Street
This 1911 building replaced the original single storey hotel operating since 1864, which began as a saddler in 1857. "... begs to inform up-country Friends that he still continues to keep his usual supply of first class Liquors, and that his usual courteous style will be exercised towards them. ...Stabling - is first class with good attendance and a plentiful supply of superior hay and oats." - Bacchus Marsh Express, 25 July, 1866.

11. The Express Office, Printing Works (1866). 8 Gisborne Road
The Express Newspaper continued operation for 117 years, owned by the Crisp family until 1970 and is a comprehensive record of the history of the Bacchus Marsh district. Buildings contain a collection of early printing technology.

12. St. Andrew's Uniting Church (1865), 12 Gisborne Road
Opened in 1865, originally a Presbyterian Church, this is the oldest of the three churches in Bacchus Marsh. The red brick hall built in 1912 was used as classrooms to Bacchus Marsh High School 1921-1923.

13. Holy Trinity Anglican Church (1877), 19 Gisborne Road
Contains the gravesite of Captain William Henry Bacchus. It was in the old iron church that Andrew George Scott was lay preacher; later to become the notorious bush ranger, Captain Moonlite.

14. St. Bernard's School and Convent of St. Joseph (1900), Gisborne Road
The town's first Catholic school started at Hopetoun Chapel in 1851. The Sisters of St. Joseph, an order of nuns founded by Saint Mary of the Cross (Mary Mackillop) took charge of the school and brick convent, built in 1900 with classrooms downstairs, dormitories for the Sisters and boarders upstairs. The Chapel Museum at the Convent contains memorabilia and is open by arrangement.
Phone: 0407 671 954.

15. Blacksmith's Shop and Cottage (1851), 100 Main Street
Blacksmith, Vere Quaile, built the stone cottage, an orchard & fenced garden about 1851. Cottage is open for visitors monthly. Blacksmith's Forge was built in 1877 by Hugh Meikle, recognised as the town's foremost blacksmith. The 'smithy closed in 1961; now operating as the Forge BookBarn, (Friday - Sunday).

16. Maddingley Park (1860s), Grant Street, nr. Railway Station
Large shady trees, historic pavilion, bandstand, modern children's playground, football oval & tennis courts make this a pleasant recreational and picnic location. The park once had a cable tram, large fountain, a sundial, an artificial lake, boathouse, bridge and cannon.

17. Railway Turntable and Station (1887), Station Street
Bacchus Marsh railway yards boast an 1887 operational turntable. Engines still use it to turn around when steam rail excursions visit. The "Marsh' has been a popular day excursion by rail since 1887.

For more photo opportunities, take a walk to:
The Chicory Kiln (1885), Taverner Street
The square multi-storey kiln enabled drying the green chicory grown locally from 1876-1892. Chicory (endive) with a turnip-like root was ground, roasted and used as an additive or substitute for coffee and as a dye for cloth. The advertising promotes "Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills" - a treatment for kidney ailments.

The Manor House, 28 Manor Street
Built by Captain William Henry Bacchus from sandstone quarried at Matson's Quarry on Bald Hill which overlooks Bacchus Marsh. The site was used as a Court House and police barracks (c.1852) for three years. The Manor House is listed on the National Estate Register and remains a private home.

Location

Main Street, Bacchus Marsh 3340 Map

Web Links

→ Bacchus Marsh Heritage Trail Brochure (PDF)