Inglewood

Inglewood is a historic gold-mining town in the Loddon Shire of north-central Victoria, located on the Calder Highway between Bendigo and Wedderburn. Established after gold was discovered in 1859, it retains a well-preserved 19th-century streetscape with heritage-listed buildings. It is notable for its gold rush history, eucalyptus oil production heritage, and as a gateway to nearby natural reserves.

Visitors can expect a small, quiet country town with a wide main street lined with historic veranda-fronted buildings, former banks, hotels and shops from the gold rush era. The town centre includes the Eucalyptus Distillery Museum, antique shops, cafes and a heritage walk. Surroundings are flat to gently undulating box-ironbark forest and farmland, with Inglewood Reservoir and Kooyoora State Park nearby for nature walks, picnics and birdwatching.

Gold was discovered at Inglewood in 1859, leading to a major gold rush and rapid town development in the early 1860s. At its peak the goldfield supported thousands of miners. The town was surveyed in 1860 and retains many buildings from the 1860s-1870s. It later became a centre for eucalyptus oil distillation from the surrounding box-ironbark forests, an industry that began in the late 19th century and continues to be associated with the town.

Inglewood reflects Victorian goldfields heritage with its intact 19th-century commercial streetscape and is recognised for its contribution to Australia's eucalyptus oil industry. The Eucalyptus Distillery Museum preserves this industrial heritage. The area is on Dja Dja Wurrung Country and nearby reserves hold cultural and natural significance.