Nestled in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, Chiltern is a quaint town located in the northeastern region of Victoria, Australia. With a population of around 1,000 residents, this charming town was established in 1857 during the Victorian gold rush. Despite the end of this era in the late 1860s, Chiltern remained a prosperous community with a thriving economy based on agriculture, timber, and small enterprises.

Chiltern was first known as Black Dog Creek, supposedly named after a black dingo that was hunted in the vicinity during the 1830s. It was officially gazetted as a town in 1851, surveyed in 1853, and later named Chiltern after the Chiltern Hills in England.

Famous Sons

• John McEwen (1900-1980), 18th Prime Minister of Australia
• Barrie Cassidy (born 1957), former political journalist
• Nigel Lappin (born 1977), a former Australian rules footballer
• Matthew Lappin (born 1979), a former Australian rules footballer

National Trust properties

Lake View House

The charming red brick house, constructed in 1870, has been recently restored and decorated in the fashion of its era. Significantly, it replicates the ambience of a lakeside country villa in a thriving mining town. Lake View House was also the home of Ethel Florence Richardson (a renowned Australian author who wrote under the pen name Henry Handel Richardson) in 1876. The house has a special significance in Australian literary history due to its association with The Getting of Wisdom.

Richardson cherished the memories of her early years spent in Chiltern, which she referred to as ‘Barambogie’ in her novel, The Fortunes of Richard Mahony. Today, Lake View House proudly displays a collection of Richardson’s personal items as a tribute to her legacy.

• 18-22 Victoria St, Chiltern
• Open 11 am – 2 pm Saturdays and every 3rd Sunday 1 pm – 4 pm.

Dow’s Pharmacy

A pharmacy for over a century, this fascinating commercial premises was built in 1859. One of the early pharmacists was David McEwen, the father of the Australian prime minister, John McEwen. John McEwan became caretaker Prime Minister of Australia following the drowning of Harold Holt. Hilda retired in 1968, closing the doors behind her. Significantly, everything inside remained intact.

Some stock and equipment even predated Hilda’s tenure and are from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Stepping through the doors of the pharmacy is like stepping back in time. With everything still there, it’s like Hilda has just stepped out for a moment.

• Adult: $5, Concession: $4, Child: $3, Family: $12
• National Trust Members: FREE
• 42 Conness Street, Chiltern
• Open Tuesdays from 11 am to 2 pm, Wednesdays from 9 am to 3 pm & Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

The Federal Standard

The Federal Standard Printing Works is one of the few substantially intact provincial newspaper printers from the gold mining era. Built in 1860, it was founded by Felix Ashworth, George Boyer, and George H. Mott in 1869. Their first publication was The Federal Standard, which ran for 110 years. The printing works also produced newspapers like The Murray Gazette, The Border Post, and The Ovens Constitution.

The printing works are still equipped with printing machinery from the 1870s to the 1930s. The machinery is still in working order and is maintained by volunteers.

• 24 Main St, Chiltern VIC 3683
• by appointment
• (03) 9656 9800

Other notable properties

Star Hotel and Theatre and Historic Grapevine: The Star Theatre is a hall connected to the Star Hotel, located at Main Street and Conness Street. Its construction dates back to 1866. Interestingly, the Star Hotel’s grounds boast the world’s largest Grapevine, which the Guinness World of Records has officially recognised.

From 1902 until 1964, the Star Theatre served as the town’s cinema. A projection box was erected outside near the stage, and the stage was transformed into raised seating. Though the projection booth has been demolished, the projection port holes can still be seen on the rear wall of the building. The theatre later closed and was repurposed as an antique store.

The Star Theatre, which was listed by the National Trust in November 1972, has been restored for films and live shows since 1996. It re-opened on May 18th of that year with a screening of “In the Good Old Summertime” starring Judy Garland. The theatre is fully equipped for 16mm presentations and can be hired for special screenings.

There is a grapevine planted in 1867 located in the courtyard. It has a trunk measuring 1.84 metres and a 12-metre-long branch, making it reputedly the biggest grapevine worldwide.

• Cnr Main St and Conness St
• 03 5726 1395

Chiltern Athenaeum: The brick building was built in 1866 to replace a previous timber structure. It previously served as the Council Chamber, Town Hall, and Library/Reading Room. Despite the Library relocating in 1970, a fascinating collection of Goldfield’s literature remained in the building. Today, the Chiltern Athenaeum Museum continues to operate, staffed by volunteers.

Kelly gang

Chiltern is significant in the Kelly saga, as Senior Constable James Lynch from Chiltern signed a warrant for the arrest of Dan Kelly and his cousin Jack Lloyd on suspicion of horse theft on April 5th, 1878. Unfortunately, this warrant sparked a series of events that ultimately led to the police murders at Stringbark Creek, the Kelly Gang manhunt, the siege at Glenrowan, and eventually, Ned Kelly’s execution by hanging.