Guildford

Guildford, population 330, is a small town situated on the confluence of the Loddon River and Campbells Creek 12 km south of Castlemaine. The area was known as Yarrayne to the original inhabitants of the area, the Dja Dja Wurrung people.

Guildford will be a popular stopping spot on the future Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail. The Rail Trail at Guildford will be joined to the town by a short bike/walking path and will feature bridges across to Midland Highway and the Loddon river.

The first European to explore the area was Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836. By the 1840s pastoral runs had been established and, in the following decade, gold miners flocked to the area during the gold rush at the Mount Alexander goldfields. The largest encampment of Chinese miners in Victoria (estimates vary from 5000-6000 individual miners) was situated at Guildford.

The Guildford Family Hotel, which dates back to 1850, is still a popular venue for meals and a drink in the garden today. Other hotels in the town included the Farmers Arms Hotel (de-licenced) and the Commercial Hotel (1865), the building now serving as the Guildford General Store. The Guildford General Store is temporarily closed. A  community campaign has been organised to raise the funds to reopen it as a community co-operative – see website https://www.guildfordcoop.com.au/ .

 

 

The Big Tree is a large, well-preserved River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), located at the corner of Fryers Street and Ballarat Street in Guildford. It is thought to be one of the largest in Victoria, with a height of 34 metres and circumference of 9.35 metres at the base. The tree is estimated to be over 500 years old.