General News
9 November, 2023
Residents invited to meeting on World Heritage Listing bid
A public meeting on the UNESCO Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid will be held in Castlemaine later this month, and Central Goldfields Shire residents are encouraged to attend. The bid to list the goldfields region as a UNESCO World Heritage...
A public meeting on the UNESCO Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid will be held in Castlemaine later this month, and Central Goldfields Shire residents are encouraged to attend.
The bid to list the goldfields region as a UNESCO World Heritage site has been gaining traction since 2020 — it includes 13 local councils campaigning for significant gold rush era sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage list, covering around 40,000 square kilometres.
It has also been backed by former Victorian premiers John Brumby and Denis Napthine.
Those backing the bid say it would deliver long-lasting benefits to communities across the goldfields region, bringing world-wide recognition and attention, as well as an estimated $1 billion to the region over 10 years.
In June this year Central Goldfields Shire councillor Chris Meddows-Taylor said Maryborough would have a key role in the bid, with the wider shire to be included in the listing.
On November 23, the Castlemaine Society (CASSOC) will host a public meeting with guest speaker World Heritage bid coordinator Trevor Budge, and will include information on the aspirations of the bid, what stage it’s at, what’s included, and what communities would gain from the bid.
The night will wrap up with question time.
The session will be held at the Uniting Church Hall at 24 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine from 7-9pm.
To RSVP email castlemainesociety@gmail.
The 13 councils partnering in the bid are Ararat, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Ballarat, Greater Bendigo, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Moorabool, Mount Alexander, Northern Grampians and Pyrenees.