Maldon - Historic Residential Area Walk
This brief walk, which takes approximately 60 minutes, covers Maldon's historic residential area. Catch a glimpse of the combination of trees, gardens, roofscapes. fences, verandahs, iron framework. stonework which all combine to produce, intact, the elements that make up a 19th century mining town.
Maldon is Australia's first notable town. So called because this was the first TOWN that The National Trust classified in 1966. The business centre of the town and its immediate surrounds remain as they were and cannot be altered other than with The Trust's consideration.
General History
1842 - Captain John Mechosk discovers gold at Bryant's Ranges, Tarrangower.
1854 - Shift from alluvial to quartz mining. Township site surveyed by John Templeton and named Maldon. Final survey carried out by Thomas Adair and completed in 1856. Municipality of Maldon proclaimed.
1863 - Population of town was 7,000 and was realising 250,000 pounds per year.
1853 to 1926 - This period of time represented 73 years of gold mining, the longest running time for any gold mining town. Long before the stamping machines had ceased to beat, Maldon had become famous the world over for its fabulously rich gold mines.
The yields of gold (from official mining records) were as follows:
Quartz - 1 ,794,993ozs
Cyanide - 10,000ozs
Alluvial - 300,000ozs
Total gold recovered - 2,104,993ozs. which valued then at 4 pounds per ounce, equalled $16,839,944, while in today's market would give a total yield that is over 3 BILLION dollars!
Around 1853-54, at the peak of the gold mining. Maldon had a population of close to 30.000 people. Today, Maldon's population is less than 2,000. There is only one gold mine working on a part time basis at Union Hill.
As you cross the gardens, originally called the Borough Reserve, it is interesting to note that it was part of the town's lively entertainment - the hurdy-gurdy grinder with his monkey, turkey lolly vendor, performing bears, blondins*, German street bands, Italian harpists and itinerant fiddlers, musical companies, variety entertainers and the very popular big-top circus staging a parade around the town, distributing handbills, headed by a Brass Band. These were all part of the rich tapestry that was the 'Gay' life in early Maldon.
Historic Residential Area Walk Map
1. Kangaroo Hotel - the first part of the hotel was built in 1856, a ballroom, butchers shop and corner section added by 1866. More was added later as hotel changed hands. The hotel was a changing station for Cobb & Co, catered for road transport and provided stabling `....for night travel the conveyances carried a semi-circle of lamps placed above the driver's seat. When approaching the town down the long hill of Telegraph Road (High St), a horn was blown for the ostlers^" to have the change horses ready. Townspeople turned out en masse to enjoy the excitements of the hour... '. The ballroom was used for Saturday night entertainment.... 'someone secreted fireworks under the stage of Ellis' theatre while the public were enjoying the beauties of the drama, the explosion creating much alarm and nearly setting the building on fire... "...A lady blondin gave a performance on a swaying tightrope stretched across Fountain Street from the reserve corner to the hotel.'
2. Wesleyan Church - (private property) The halls built 1855 and 1861, parsonage 1858, church 1863. Refer to the Church brochure for a complete history. From outside the front fence, note the plaque of William Woodfull, who became very famous in Maldon when he became captain of the Australian Cricket team. The oval is named after him.
3. Old Fire Station - 1862. When the council formed a Fire Brigade in 1873 it used this building until 1957. Now used by Maldon Lions Club. The original engine is housed in the Vintage Machinery Museum in Vincents St.
4. Maldon Museum - 1859. Originally the Market Building, built at a cost of 1,250 pounds. An inscribed silver trowel was presented to J. Wright J.P. when the foundation stone was laid. Two similar trowels can be seen on the inside walls of the Holy Trinity Church. The market closed in 1860 due to financial depression. The Council converted the building in 1865-1871 for their purposes and remained until 1964. The building is now used as the Museum.
Walking into the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve, it can be noted that Maldon fielded a football team which won numerous premierships in the 1890s. Cricket was also very popular.
5. Court House - 1861. The original wooden building built in 1857 proved unsuitable to the public and a tender for a new one was accepted for 2,016 pounds work was halted and Maldon Bricks replaced the use of Castlemaine Bricks '....when the latter proved inferior.' Completed in 1861 and used as a court house until it was closed in 1968-9. `....a staggering number of public enquiries heard by a Magistrate and jury of 12 men, due to high incidence of mining fatalities, drowning, suicides and other post mortem cases. An enormous volume of legal business kept the Court open on almost every day of the week'
6. Croquet Club - 1890. Was originally the bowling club.
7. Post Office - 1869. Has an interesting history including the early life of Henry Handel Richardson (Ethel). Refer to the Post Office brochure for complete history.
8. The Athenaeum - 1934. The original Mechanic's Institute reading room opened in 1857. To build a new library, funds were raised by a series of lectures, the first being "Popular errors, delusions & superstitions" on 16/1/1858. New wooden building erected in 1864-65 was destroyed by fire, all records held were lost, including the stuffed albatross in the window. A new brick building was erected in 1934. This is the only Athenum Library still running as a borrowing library outside of Melbourne. Independently run by volunteers.
9. Vivian's House - (48 High St.) 1862. Site of the oldest crashing mill in Maldon. Owned by Edwards & Co, taken over by Vivian & Co in 1862, who set up a grocery store. Bought by F. Maddocks, who (possibly) built the Moorish facade and renovated the back area. There are two possum paw prints in bricks either side of the front door. Sold to McArthurs (Bakery) in 1888.
10. Holy Trinity Church - 1861. In 1867 Rev J. Stretch appointed his son John F. Stretch and introduced him around town '... the two in their top hats making a remarkable spectacle, and when he delivered his first sermon next Sunday he made a lasting conquest in young Ethel Richardson... ' Rev. John changed the church service from Low to High Church, after which he made a lasting conquest of the congregation. Refer to the Church brochure for full history. Church is open every day.
11. Tressider's Cottage - (54 High St.) 1859. Owned by Edwards (Battery). Rented by Tressider following an advertisement in the paper '.... To let furnished or unfurnished that comfortable and commodious 4 roomed brick cottage situated in High St...rent moderate.' Note: Across the street and there are several houses with unusual roof lines and gables, including Robinson's House, the only Gothic Revival building in Maldon.
12. Dr. Lisle's House - (58 High St.) 1857. Occupied by Dr. Lisle until 1864, during which time a rich reef was discovered by a Mr. Napier. The doctor and he laid claim and made a lot of riches very fast. They did not live long to enjoy their wealth - Dr Lisle was found penniless on a Melbourne street and died in 1864. and Mr Napier drowned in the Loddon River. The front verandah of the house is not original and the house was continually occupied by doctors until fairly recently.
13. Primary School No. 1254 opened in 1875. The building was started in 1874 and was built by William Smith, from local stone and bricks, handmade from Wagner's Brick Kiln in Tobin Street. The bricklayer, called Finch, was from Castlemaine. The cost to build was almost 4,000 pounds. The only changes are some windows enlarged and extra added. There were 640 pupils in the 1890s '...while the opening ceremony was on, batches of 300 children feasted on sandwiches, cakes and tarts - there were 1200 children present.' Enrolment now is around 100.
14. Dr. Hardy's House - (Hardy's B&B, 113 High St.) 1857 (Charles Henry). This is very much altered from the original external look of the building. He used the house to treat his patients as well as for his home. In 1860 he was made Honorary Medical Officer, Magistrate, and gained the Office of Coroner. In 1873 he was elected to the Board of Advice for the School Board of Carlton. While in Melbourne he became well known for successfully treating paralysis patients and -curing: spinal diseases.
15. School Cottage (115 High St.) 1860. Miss Farley's Private School. The wings at the rear were used as the -schoolrooms. One of the numerous schools operating at this time.
16. Ethandune - (68 High St.) 1870. A grand house with a grand garden. Occupied by R.D. Oswald Jnr. when he arrived in 1890. Prior names associated with this house are H. McNeill, R. Southee and Henry Napier. Note: As you walk up the street there are several late 19th century houses displaying a variety of styles.
17. Minilya - (39 Adair St.) 1900. A superb turn of the century home built for Charles Calder by his father Thomas Calder of Calder House. More details are given about the Calders further along the walk. There is another example of the same style of house across the street.
18. Maldon Hospital - 1859. A small wooden building was used but considered too small and became the residence of the Dispenser L.C.Payne. The architect for the new building was D.R. Drape. whose name appears for many buildings around the town. Money was raised by Government grant, subscriptions and community efforts. A silver trowel was presented on the laying of the foundation stone on 25 June 1860. Two years later another wing was added, along with bathrooms. The hospital was very appreciated and a "Fancy Fair- was held in 1863 which raised 700 pounds. Visiting days were Sunday, Tuesday and Friday 2-5pm. The central double story section was added in 1867. The building has been altered in modern times from modernised to historical.
19. St. Brigid's Catholic Church - 1891. The first church built was St. Saviours and was erected on this site in 1858. The tender was gained by Thomas Calder for 660 pounds 6shillings. for the new one. Refer to Church brochure for more detailed history.
20. Rule's House - (38 Adair St., Gordonville) 1897. Belonged to J.H. Rule, who was the legal manager for the South German Mine.
21. Adair House - (36 Adair St.) 1856-57. Brick and weatherboard house with unusual detailing on gable end and bay window. Adair is credited with giving the township the name of Maldon (it had originally been known as Tarrangower).
22. Mount Hawke - (24 Adair St., B&B) 1860's. Classic Australian country house, named after the original owner's village in Cornwall.
23. Corner Shop & Residence - (35 Templeton St.) 1866. The land was purchased by Mary Ann Broderick, who settled in Maldon as a widow with three children. She gave birth to another (her 9th) shortly after her arrival. Her sister, Sarah Carter Hines, already lived here and moved into a second house next door. The two families spent four decades at these properties. Until the 1930's the 2nd brick house sat to the left. After the Brodericks left, the shop was run by a series of well known Maldon families - Roberts and Morcom. The shop traded as a local shop until the 1990's. Some of the stock can be seen in the Maldon Museum.
24. Kardinia - (31-33 Templeton St.) 1890. House of Miss Brooks, who was a wealthy spinster related to the Brook's Store. Substantial home with fine iron work.
25. Chapman's House - (20 Templeton St., large garden) 1863 or earlier. This is a weatherboard cottage built in stages, most of the ceilings are coved. Owned by Frederick Chapman who was a Shakespearian actor and local Auctioneer. Advertisement in newspaper dated 6.1.1863 'selling...A desirable and commodious cottage with beautiful garden...Situated in Templeton Street. Now in the occupation of Frederick Chapman'.
26. Aldersyde - (18 Templeton St.) 1860. The brick section to the left was constructed first. The weatherboard section was constructed in 1900 using reverse brick veneer (bricks on the inside). Owned by the Ray family from 1884 until recently. George Ray was a well known personality during the early days of the Maldon Easter Fair (from 1878). For many years he would '...skilfully lead the parade around town mounted on a Roman Chariot drawn by a span of grey horses numbering more than half a score on many occasions.'
27. Holy Trinity Parsonage - (14 Templeton St.) 1865. Former parsonage, the church was originally at the rear.
28. Lovell's Cottage - (12 Templeton St.) 1860. Timber cottage, sitting angled on the block to cope with the contours.
29. Viewpoint - (21 Templeton St.) Joseph Young's Cottage. Early cottage with a room that was used as a schoolroom. The large Bunya Pine is one of the few surviving in Maldon.
30. Welsh Congregational Church - (private property) 1863. The first congregational service was conducted by Rev. J. Firth in the Royal Hotel on 23 July 1858. Land was purchased in 1863 and the new building was erected in the same year. The Welsh period of the church ended in 1893, when the service was given in English and the Congregational Union was joined. The building was enlarged between 1901-5, when the brick transept was added at the rear. The were other additions over the following decade. Severity and lack of design is typical of the con-conformist churches. Previously restored and classified by the National Trust.
31. The Penny School - (11 Church St., private property) 1856 and 1862. The Church of England School, formerly known as the Denominational School. The building began in 1856 in brick and stone with a shingle roof . By 1857 there were 120 children enrolled. The school proved very satisfactory and '... was possessed of every available apparatus similar to those in use in the model schools in Melbourne.' A thunderstorm destroyed most of the building in 1858 and the building was left to decay until the Mount Alexander Mail reported '....if the Episcopalians cannot rebuild at least they have no right to allow a crazy, dangerous and tottering ruin to endanger the lives of our little ones. After a lengthy delay the school was rebuilt in 1862, using the original foundations and new stone. The old bricks were used for new additions to the building. The old Master transferred to Porcupine Flat and William Johnson was employed. The Governess remained. By 1864, two assistants were employed and by 1866 a timber partition was added. In 1868, due to excess numbers the girls were moved to other premises (unknown). The school became known as the Trinity Church Common School. Free and compulsory education was introduced into Victoria in 1872. The Penny School integrated with the Wesleyan Denominational School to create the Maldon Primary School, which operated in the Church schoolhouse until the present school was built. The Penny School became the Church of England Grammar School, then was used until modern times as a Sunday School. During the period of time between the building of the School and 1872 there were numerous other schools in Maldon and the surrounding area - 18 of these have been named. The building was acquired by The National Trust in 1978 and sold in 2014.
32. Presbyterian Manse - (3 Church St.) 1858. The first building on this site was a two-roomed weatherboard house built as a temporary residence for the minister. Two brick rooms were added in 1859 and further additions were made in 1861.
33. Presbyterian Church - (Maldon Neighbourhood Centre) 1880. The first church built on this site was a timber structure. It was removed and the present church replaced it. The foundation stone was laid in 1905 by Mrs M. Oswald (from the family owning the North British Mine).
34. Baptist Church - 1896. Constructed by the English Baptists. Refer to the Church brochure for full history.
35. Brook's Store - (6 Templeton St.) 1866. Cooperative Store built and conducted by a shareholding company. Shares, 2,000 at 10 shillings, were issued in 1866. Land was purchased for 25 pounds with the intention of building and running the business, including a General Store, Butcher and Baker. Tenders were called in 1867 for stables to be built, during which time the front was enlarged. Brooks arrived in 1864 and the cooperative was liquidated in 1872. It is thought that T. Brooks added the top storey in Edwards Street. The Brooks family ran the store until 1986. Very few alterations have been made to the building.
36. Welsh Baptist Church - (2 Francis St., private property) 1865. Used by the Welsh Baptists as a church until 1930. Classified by the National Trust. Refer to Church brochure for more detailed history.
37. Temperance Hall - (Maldon Progress Hall) 1873. Occupied by the Salvation Army until 1903. Now used as part of the Community Centre for functions, displays and entertainment.
38. Calder House - 1884. Originally called Roseneath. Ornate 19th C. residence of Thomas Calder. The block was purchased from John Dolphin (Dolphin Street). The main front rooms were added to an existing structure. Calder was an ironmonger who helped build the hospital and part of the Holy Trinity Church. Calder's Ironmongery advertised in Maldon as Iron Merchant, Saw Mill Agent, Lime Depot, Timber Yard and '...funerals furnished on the shortest notice.' Calder was still resident in 1900.
* Blondin - Funambulist, Tight Rope Walker. Named after Chevalier Blondin - famous tightrope walker of the period.
^ Ostle - Groom, stableboy (or man). Middle English - hostiler, hostel.
Location
93 High Street, Maldon 3463 Map
