At a glance
Distance from Echuca Moama | Approximately 50 minutes drive |
Best for | Gold Rush history, walking and cycling trails, nature |
Don’t miss | Waranga Rail Trail, Heritage Main Street, Box Ironbark Forest |
Perfect as | A full-day outdoor adventure |
Historic goldfields and ironbark wilderness.
Located approximately 50 minutes from Echuca Moama, the historic town of Rushworth is nestled directly on the edge of the Rushworth State Forest - home to the world’s largest remaining Box-Ironbark forest.
Established in 1853 during the height of the Victorian Gold Rush, Rushworth offers an authentic step back in time. Its High Street is classified by the National Trust as one of Australia's best-preserved 19th-century goldfields main streets, featuring historic verandahed storefronts, heritage pubs, and local bakeries.
The Waranga Rail Trail is a 19km trail for cycling and walking which stretches from Rushworth to Murchison. The trail traverses the old Rushworth to Murchison East Railway Line which was built to transport timber, grain and other goods to Melbourne following the region's gold rush years, operating for almost 100 years.
The nearby historic Whroo township, now deserted, was once a thriving village that developed around the base of Victoria’s largest open-cut gold mine at Balaclava Hill.
Rushy, as it’s commonly nicknamed, is a popular tourist stop – meander along the natural landscape taking in interpretive signage describing the site as it was centuries ago. Take a self-guided cycling or walking tour to Whroo and the Balaclava Mine, through the state forest, and grab lunch, dinner or an ice cream in town when you’re done. Or wake up early to catch the Rushworth Monthly Market to browse unique wares and local produce.
Planning to explore Rushworth further?
Itineraries
A Day of History Exploration in Rushworth
Explore A Day of History Exploration in Rushworth
