After a couple of fairly cool overcast days in Bendigo, this morning was bright and warm. I started off with a ride to the racecourse, 6kms north of the town, to see a big car rally, attended by Austins from all over Australia. I'd hoped that there might be a Metropolitan there but there wasn't; understandable really as there are only 4 in Australia and 2 are in Parth and the other 2 in Queensland, a long way away. However it was an excellent turnout with over 200 cars present:
After an enjoyable hour at the rally I headed back through the centre of Bendigo then proceeded south east towards Castlemaine, today's destination. At Mandurang, about 10kms from Bendigo, is this sign marking the geographic centre of the state of Victoria:
A few kms further, this red gum, thought to be over 500 years old, is the tree where the party sent to rescue the ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills camped in 1862:
I arrived in Castlemaine around 1430. It's another gold-rush town, with many notable buildings from its mid-Victorian heyday:
Next to the huge Post Office is the oldest surviving telegraph station in Australia:
There is a large monument to the Burke and Wills expedition overlooking the town:
At the opposite side of the town, the old gaol also enjoys a good view:
Distance today 64kms, total 1771kms.
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