Located in the Central Goldfields Shire, approximately 20 minutes by car from the regional centre of Maryborough, is the former Gold Rush town of Dunolly. Known as Lea Kuribur by the Dja Dja Wurrung, today Dunolly is home to a vibrant, thriving, creative community and serves as a central hub for the many artists living locally and in surrounding towns.

Bookending the main thoroughfare are Puzzle Flat Art Gallery at one end and the Ministry of Fun at the other, with a number of cafes, gift shops, second hand stores and the award winning Dunolly Bakery in between. It’s worth noting the galleries and second hand stores have limited opening hours so it is always recommended to check the opening times.

While some effort has been made by local historians to uncover the region’s significance to the Dja Dja Wurrung nation and capture some of their unwritten memories, sadly most of the knowledge of the first people inhabiting the region has been obscured by a brutal colonial history and the rush to strike it rich on the goldfields. Many of the old colonial and gold rush era buildings are still standing and Dunolly has some of the most well preserved historical buildings in the region.

The main street is lined with historically significant, native Kurrajong trees, which mark the town’s Avenue of Honour, and is one of only three Avenues to feature these trees in Victoria.  While we’re on the subject of significant trees, the magnificent cork tree at the old Dunolly Railway station is something straight out of a story book and is definitely worth a look if you love amazing trees.