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Maldon awarded the National Trust of Australia's
"Most intact heritage streetscape character"
| 1966 |
National Trust declares Maldon streetscape
"worthy of preservation" - first town in
Australia |
| 1977 |
Maldon Planning Scheme - first statutory
attempt in Victoria to conserve a whole town |
| 2006 |
National Trust award for Maldon with "the
most intact historic streetscape in Victoria" |
Maldon prides itself that it provides a living
history of the 1850's goldmining era and does not
have to depend on reproductions. The streetscape has
basically retained the appearance it had from that
era with its buildings being restored and used for
commercial purposes. The shops from that period are
still operating as shops, the hotels continue to
operate as hotels and the larger commercial
buildings are being used for shops and visitor
accommodation.
Prior to the discovery of gold, the area that was to
become the township of Maldon was part of the large
Tarrangower pastoral run. Gold was discovered in a
gully at the base of Mount Tarrangower in 1853 and
the township of Tarrangower was established, later
to be renamed Maldon. As the amount of gold that was
mined increased so the town increased in size and
the quality of buildings improved, with a number of
substantial buildings being constructed. When the
gold that could be mined economically petered out,
the last gold mine closed in 1928 and with the
effects of the depression the town went into a state
of suspension.
The concepts and philosophy of the Burra Charter
were being followed in Maldon many years before the
Charter was produced in 1977. In 1964 a study by the
University of Melbourne’s School of Architecture
produced a report that led to the National Trust
recognising the historic importance of the town and
declaring Maldon a “Notable Town” in 1966. The Trust
was concerned that unless controls were introduced
to protect the historic character of the town
changes could occur that would reduce the original
character. A report was prepared by the Trust in
1969, “Proposals for the Conservation of Maldon”,
resulting in the “Maldon Planning Scheme”being
introduced in 1977 - the first statutory attempt in
Victoria to achieve the historic conservation of a
whole town.
| Subsequent studies were commissioned to assess the
cultural significance of the town and to develop
conservation policies: |
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the Ministry of Planning and the Environment’s
comprehensive “Maldon Conservation Study” that had
the task of providing historic data and evidence of
the appearance of the town in the period 1860 to
1900, recommending methods for achieving effective
conservation and listing priorities; |
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the Department of Planning’s “Trees and Gardens of
the Goldmining Era - a study of the Maldon
Landscape” that provided recommendations for
landscaping and tree planting . |
These studies resulted in the provision of the
Maldon Restoration Fund to provide low interest
loans for restoration projects and a Heritage
Advisor to implement the existing controls on
restoration works and the design of new buildings.
The result of these controls is that the streetscape
is the that seen in photographs from the 1860s.
| A number of groups are active in the town, recording
its history, maintaining its historic character and
overseeing its appearance: |
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Maldon Museum and Archives are active in
maintaining the museum and a comprehensive computer
based database of its history |
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Maldon Athenaeum Library
maintains a collection of publications and
books relating to Maldon |
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Maldon Heritage Committee
monitors building work in Maldon and runs
heritage restoration projects |
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Maldon Incorporated makes
submissions for grants and promotes the
cultural and historic aspects of Maldon |
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Heritage Advisor advises and
controls restorations and new buildings |
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Mount Alexander Shire Planning
Department controls alterations and new
building construction |
The restoration of buildings in Maldon is an ongoing
project with work being funded by the owners,
private organisations, government grants and public
appeals. The most recent projects have been the
restoration of the Maldon Hospital; the restoration
of the Uniting Church; the repairs of the stone
drain that runs below the town; the restoration of
the Court House; the restoration of the town’s stone
gutters; and current fund raising project to restore
the roof of the Holy Trinity Church. |