Business categories in Clunes, VIC

Welcome to Clunes, VIC

The rural town of Clunes lies 36 kilometres to the north of Ballarat. It has a population of more than 1,500 people.

History

The rural town was the site of Victoria’s first official gold discovery in 1851. The find generated a gold rush in the state and the town itself was settled a few years later. During the late 1880s, the population of Clunes rose to more than 6,000 people, all drawn to the prospect of gold.

It was an important gold mining community for many years in the second half of the nineteenth century. More than 1.2million ounces of gold was produced at the time, and many buildings from the era still exist today.

Lifestyle and Entertainment

As well as claiming to be Victoria’s most architecturally intact town from the days of the gold rush, Clunes is also developing another identity.

It is transforming itself into a European-style book-town and welcomes thousands of visitors to its annual book festival.

The town offers a range of education and sporting opportunities, and has its own railway station.