Page 429 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

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WESTERN VICTORIA

The theme of Western Victoria is diversity. For nature lovers,
there is the bare beauty of the mallee deserts of the north
or the forested hills and coastal scenery of the south. For a
sense of the region’s history, 19th-century gold-mining
towns lie in the centre, surrounded by beautiful spa towns
which have attracted visitors for more than a century.
The area’s sights are all within easy reach of one another.

Just as the Aboriginal tribes of Western In the south, the spectacular Grampian
Victoria had their lives and culture shaped mountain ranges have long been of
by the region’s diverse landscape, so the significance to the Aborigines. Fortunately,
lives of the early European settlers were the steep cliffs and heavily forested slopes
inevitably determined by the region’s offered little prospect for development
geographical features and immense by early settlers and this beautiful area is
natural resources. today preserved as a wilderness. Wheat
The discovery of gold was the single and sheep farmers have settled in parts of
most important event in Victoria’s the Mallee region in the north of Western
economic history, drawing prospectors Victoria but, as in the Grampians, other
from all over the world and providing the settlers have been discouraged by its
state with unprecedented wealth. Part of semi-arid conditions, and large areas of
the legacy of this period is seen in the this stunning desert vegetation and its
grand 19th-century buildings still standing native wildlife have been left intact.
in a number of central western towns. Also The southwestern coast was the site
of interest are the spa towns clustered of the first settlement in Victoria. Its
nearby, which draw their therapeutic towns were developed as ports for the
waters from the same mineral-rich earth. rich farmland beyond and as whaling
To the northwest, Victoria’s major stations for the now outlawed industry.
agricultural region, the Murray River, Besides its history, this coastline is known
supports several large townships. The area is for its extraordinary natural scenery of
blessed with a Mediterranean-type climate, sandstone monoliths, sweeping beaches,
resulting in wineries and fruit-growing areas. forests and rugged cliffs.

Pioneer Settlement, a re-created 19th-century port town on the Murray River at Swan Hill
The jagged edge of the Great Ocean Road coastline, with some of the Twelve Apostles