Macarthur
Pleasant small rural service centre
Macarthur is a small and neat rural centre of some 300 people with some Tidy Town Awards under its belt. It is located 314 km west of Melbourne via the Hamilton Highway and Penshurst.

Thomas Alexander Browne, who took up land to the south of town in 1844, later wrote what is often regarded as one of Australia's first novels of note, Robbery Under Arms, using the pseudonym Rolf Boldrewood. Another local who left a legacy of distinction was a member of the Crowther family who went on to found Brighton Grammar School at Melbourne.

In the 19th century economic activities in the area included wool-scouring and the extraction of lime from local limestone deposits. Dairying emerged late in the 19th century and a local butter factory won first prize on the London market for its produce in 1904.

Things to see:  

Historic Buildings
The town has a few buildings of historic interest: the bluestone Catholic Church (1887), the Presbyterian Church (1875), the courthouse, and the Victoria Hotel in High St which was built in 1870 as the Travellers Rest.

Macarthur Memorial Rose Garden
The Macarthur Memorial Rose Garden , at the corner of High St and Hecklefield St (known as Market Square), features 150 roses, each with an individual plaque commemorating a soldier who fought for Australia in a theatre of war. Each plant and corresponding plaque was donated by the family or friends of the individual soldier. Anzac services are held here each year.

Mount Eccles National Park
From about 18 000 BC to 6000 BC this area was an active volcanic zone with a tide of molten lava spilling out to form lava caves, craters (now crater lakes) and the surrounding volcanic plains. Some flowed sufficiently far south to form Lady Julia Percy Island, from whence Matthew Flinders became the first European to sight Mount Eccles. These days, on a clear day, it is possible to do the opposite: to see the island from the peak of the mountain. Major Mitchell later named it Mount Eeles and it was a misprint which gave us the present name.

A sealed road from Macarthur heads due west for 9 km to Mount Eccles National Park (6120 ha) which is centred on the extinct volcano. Today it is covered by tall manna gum and some blackwood within which can be found brown echidna, bush-tailed possums, yellow-bellied gliders, ring-tail possums, the tiger cat, koalas, eastern grey kangaroos and 70 species of birds including wedge-tailed eagles. It provides opportunities for walking, picnicking, swimming, wildlife observation, lava-cave exploration and camping. Some of the geographical features - craters, lava canals, lava blisters, collapsed tunnels, scoria cones and stony rises - are of considerable interest.

The three main craters of the former volcano now contain Lake Surprise which is surrounded by 33-metre high natural basalt walls. 800 metres long, 183 metres wide and 13.4 metres at its deepest, it is a fabulous spot for swimming.

The entry road from Macarthur leads past some toilets to a carpark and picnic area with a picnic shelter, water and a fireplace. A disabled person's track leads from this point to the rim of the crater (a good spot for a photograph) overlooking the lake. It then doubles back to the attractive camping area which is located just to the north of the picnic site. It has excellent facilities, including hot showers, tables, water, fireplaces, toilets and facilities for the disabled. During holiday periods it is best to check with a ranger to ensure a site is available. There is a camping fee. Ring (03) 5576 1338 for bookings.

There are four major walking tracks and they all start near the park entrance (strong footwear is recommended). The Crater Rim Walk (1.5 to 2 hours) follows a series of numbered pegs around the rim of the crater. A corresponding leaflet is available from the information centre. The Lake Walk (45 minutes) descends into the crater and follows the shoreline of the lake.

There is a lava cave at the northern rim of the crater which was formed by a collapsed lava canal. A two-metre opening leads into a flat-bottomed cave with an arched roof that reaches as high as five metres. It is decorated with solidified lava stalactites. The Canal Walk (2 hours) starts at the lava cave and explores a lava canal which looks like a creek bed but which once conveyed enormous quantities of lava from the crater south-west to form today's fertile volcanic plains.

The Natural Bridge Walk (1.5 to 2 hours) follows a track south from the roadway to the summit of the mountain (196 m above sea-level) then down via some steps to the empty volcanic cone.

Mount Napier State Park and Byaduk Caves
To the north of Macarthur is Mount Napier State Park. Its predominant feature is Mount Napier which is thought to have been Victoria's last active volcano, ceasing activity around 5000 BC. At 447 metres it offers excellent views south to the coast and north to the Grampians. The walking track to the summit passes through forest and by some interesting volcanic formations. The associated landscape features craters, scoria cones, lava tunnels, lava flows, sink-hole barriers, caves and enormous 50-tonne boulders blasted from the cone.

Within the park are the Byaduk Caves, formed when the outer edge of a lava stream from Mount Napier cooled and solidified while the internal lava continued to flow. This is one of the most accessible and extensive system of lava caves in Victoria but the sites are not developed and so care should be taken. A torch and appropriate footwear and clothes are a must. One of the largest is Church Cave which has a chamber 50 metres long and 7 metres high. To access the caves proceed to Byaduk North (about 18 km north of Macarthur) then head east for 6 km along Byaduk Caves Road. For further information ring Parks Victoria on 131 963, the Park office on (03) 5574 1338 or the Information Centre at Hamilton on (03) 5572 3746.

	Hotels
	Macarthur Victoria Hotel High St Macarthur VIC 3286 Telephone: (03) 5576 1120
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Baloo Bed & Breakfast Cnr Port Fairy & Glengleeson West Rds RMB 5505 Macarthur VIC 3286 Telephone: (03) 5576 1171 Rating: ***
	Bethany at Macarthur Bed & Breakfast 67 High St Macarthur VIC 3286 Telephone: (03) 5576 1000 Rating: ***
	Cottages & Cabins
	Taroona Cottage Condah Rd RMB 1295 Macarthur VIC 3286 Telephone: (03) 5578 4235 or (03) 5578 4261 Rating: ***