Wandiligong

Overview

Once buoyed by agriculture and the gold rush, the whole of Wandiligong is now registered with the National Trust. There are quaint little buildings, including cottages, the Manchester Unity Hall of 1874 and the town's century-old general store. A drink at the local pub, a single-storey building with long, shady verandah, is highly recommended, perhaps after you've taken the historical diggings walk. Wandiligong is rich with history which is celebrated, such as with the Chinese Heritage Swing Bridge.

History

Growlers Creek (now Wandiligong) was the site of a small gold rush, the creek being panned from about the mid 1850s for alluvial gold and later by tunnelling into the quartz reefs. The population grew from 200-300 in 1858 to 1,385 (including Bright) in 1861. Chinese were not counted but estimated to be about 500.

The valley would have been a noisy place then with dredges and batteries, woodcutters in the hills getting timber for the mines, blasting and wagons carrying ore to the batteries which worked all day and all night, except Sundays. This great influx of people meant that businesses to supply them could flourish and along the main road there were hotels, wine shanties, bakers, doctor, chemist, blacksmiths, butchers, carpenters and saddlers and of course, to keep law and order, a Police Station.

Places of interest

Chinese Swing Bridge
Wandi Maze
Historic buildings (the whole township is registered by the National Trust)
Large brick schoolhouse
Church of England
Manchester Unity building
Wandi Poplars (stunning in Autumn)

Accommodation

To book accommodation or for more information contact the friendly staff at the Alpine Shire Council on Churchill Avenue, Bright.

Toll Free: 1800 111 885
Telephone: 03 5755 0555
Facsimile: 03 5755 1811
Web: http://www.greatalpinevalleys.com.au

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