Approximately 25 kilometres from Dunolly and 47 Kilometres from Maryborough, on the outer edges of the Central Goldfields shire, is the tiny town of Bealiba. Bealiba is home to an active farming community and is quietly becoming a haven for artists and creatives. 

The name Bealiba is Indigenous for ‘Red Gum (Beal) by the creek (ba)’ and was once home to the Bial Balug clan of the Dja Dja Wurrung whose traditional lands extend over 16,000 square kilometres across Central Victoria. There are a number of significant and sacred Indigenous sites still to be found around the edges of the town and on beautiful Mt Bealiba.

Although many of the original buildings in the main street have seen better days, and the local Evans Hotel is now a private residence, don’t let the ghost-town vibe fool you! Bealiba has a great community of wonderful people who are proud of their little, slipping-off-the-time-track town.

The Bealiba Railway Station has been lovingly restored by Heather and Robert Cooper and there is free camping at the Reservoir, which supports many different species of water birds, including kingfishers, cormorants and a variety of ducks, and there plenty of bushwalking and 4WD tracks to explore. 

Find out more about the history and beauty of this quiet little town here.