Bonnie Doon

Overview

The small community of Bonnie Doon is situated at the northern end of the lake only a short drive from Mansfield.

The town is ideally located on the banks of Lake Eildon and caters to the fishing and boating community. The beauty of Bonnie Doon lies in it's positioning, encapsulating the vibrancy and beauty of the lake set against a backdrop of mountians and ideally positioned for filming. Bonnie Doon gained a certain notoriety when featured in The Castle.

History

The area of Bonnie Doon was first passed through by white man in 1824 by explorers Hume and Hovell. It was settled in 1834 and the township originated in the 1860's. The town was originally named Doon was later changed, in 1891, to Bonnie Doon.

The discovery of gold in the area caused a immense growth of the town, and from this emerged a strong farming community. There was once quite a few Hotels and other shops as well as a butter factory.

In 1955 Lake Eildon was enlarged to store more water for irrigation and the Bonnie Doon township was going to be submerged. The town relocated nearby which involved moving the highway and railway and the building of new bridges. The population declined with the movement of Bonnie Doon as many residents decided to relocate.

Places of interest

Bonnie Doon cemetery
Lake Eildon 
Goughs Bay
Jamieson
Woods Point
Merrijig
Tolmie
Craigs Hut
Alpine National Park
Mt Buller and Mt Striling Alpine Resorts
Howqua Hills Historic Area

Accommodation

For more information or to book accommodation contact the friendly staff at the Mansfield-Mt Buller The High Country Visitor Information Centre, High Street Mansfield.

Telephone: 03 5775 1464
Website: www.mansfield-mtbuller.com.au

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Town statistics

Population 300
Distance from Melbourne 200 kilometres, 125 miles and 2.5 hours driving time
Road access Maroondah Highway

Location Map

View map of Bonnie Doon

Township showcase

View images in Locations library