| Prior to white settlement aboriginal inhabitants included the Djadja Wurrung and the Wemba-Wemba people.
The first European settlers were the Creswick brothers who established a large sheep station in 1842.
Creswick, located on the Midland Highway 15 minutes drive north from Ballarat, is a historic gold mining township set amidst tall eucalyptus and pine forests.
Deep lead mining was the main form of mining after the early 1870s and notable mines were the Madame Berry and the New Australasia.
History recalls that in 1882 the Creswick New Australasia gold mine was the scene of a disaster when 22 miners were drowned in a flooded shaft. It was a record loss of lives for an Australian mine.
Many of the buildings of the gold era survive in the town and are much loved by locals and admired by visitors.
Forestry industry development took place after much of the old forests were destroyed by mining and Creswick became the site of the state’s first tree plantation in the 1880’s.
Creswick is renowned for its forestry and is the home of the School of Forestry, an adjunct of Melbourne University. More recent forestry operations include various research facilities including CRC Wood Innovations, a cooperative research centre.
Local industries also include grazing, agriculture and the Creswick Woollen Mills which has been a focus of manufacturing in the area for over three generations.
Activities in the town are supported by the Creswick District Development Association(CDDA) and an array of service clubs, lodges and organisations are represented in the town.
The town has a rich heritage, producing some of the most influential bureaucrats, politicians and business people of the early years of the 20th century, including Prime Minister John Curtin and the multi talented Lindsay family.
In 1864 Dr Robert Lindsay set up his practice in Creswick. His son Norman, author and painter, depicted aspects of Creswick in three of his novels, Saturdee, Red Heap and Halfway to Anywhere. Another son, Percy, painted numerous scenes of Creswick, of which over 20 are in the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Collection. One Percy Lindsay painting depicts Chinatown in Creswick, a reminder of the Chinese gold miners.
Community facilities in Creswick include: a Hospital, three primary schools, Aged Care Hostel, Health Centre, Library, Creswick Learning Centre, Visitor Information Centre, Historic Town Hall & Museum, Churches, Fire Brigade, extensive sporting facilities and Caravan Park
The Historic Museum is in the former town hall and municipal chambers building. It contains a fine collection of Lindsay’s sketches and paintings, historic photographs and items from Creswick’s gold mining past.
Only 20 minutes from Ballarat and an easy drive from Melbourne, the township of Creswick balances a relaxed community lifestyle for both residents and visitors with plenty of accommodation, tourist attractions and local festivals include the annual Forestry Fiesta in October.
For more information on Creswick, please contact
The Hepburn Shire Council,
The Daylesford Regional Information Centre
or visit the links below:
Around and About Creswick
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