The Big Cigarette

Myrtleford (including Eurobin)
Pleasant rural centre on the northern road to Bright and Mt Buffalo.
Myrtleford is an agricultural town of some 3500 people located 223 m above sea-level on the Great Alpine Rd between Wangaratta and Bright. It is scenically located in the foothills of the Mt Buffalo Range, adjacent the Ovens River, Happy Valley Creek and Barwidgee Creek. As a result of its location it serves as a gateway to Mt Buffalo National Park and its associated skiing resorts with daily coach services departing daily. Myrtleford is 273 km north-east of Melbourne via the Hume Freeway.

The local district is the largest producer of hops in the country and it also possesses the country's largest stand of walnut trees. Historically, timber and tobacco have proven central to the town and it is still possible to see some of tobacco kilns from the Great Alpine Rd. Grapes, asparagus, mint, chestnuts and wine are also produced.

Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Dhudoroa Aborigines. The first white people in the Ovens Valley were the pastoralists who arrived in 1837-38. John Hillas built huts and stockyards on the banks of Myrtle Creek in 1837, near the present Myrtleford Hotel.

Prospectors appeared when gold was discovered in the early 1850s and the settlement of Myrtleford began to emerge as a camping place around a ford at Myrtle Creek which was used by the Beechworth miners. The creek was named after the myrtle trees growing there but has since been renamed Barwidgee Creek.

The first localised mining rush occurred along Happy Valley Creek in 1856 with reef mining soon commencing at Gapstead. The town was surveyed and named in 1859.

Myrtleford survived the decline of goldmining due to the early establishment of hop and tobacco production. Chinese settlers, the Pan Look family, were, for many years, the largest growers. The 1930s and 1940s were hard times for the town but, after World War II, new methods and strains of tobacco were introduced and a Tobacco Research Station was established. Southern European migrants also settled in the area in the postwar years, involving themselves in the tobacco, hops and walnut industries.

The Tobacco, Timber and Hops Festival is held on the Labor Day long weekend in March and, in October, the Myrtleford Show is held annually and the International Festival biennially. The Golden Spur Rodeo is a major local event that has been held on Boxing Day since 1954 and a major market day sees the streets blocked off on the first Friday in January.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
The Ponderosa Cabin, a log cabin in Clyde St, is the local information centre. It also has souvenirs as well as hops, tobacco and timber displays (and a drapery and hairdresser's!) and it is generally open every day but Sunday, tel: (03) 5752 1727. Nearby, at Clyde and Standish Sts, is the Myrtleford Hotel which dates from the late 19th century.

The Phoenix Tree sculpture

The Phoenix Tree
Located adjacent the Great Alpine Rd at the Wangaratta end of town, the Phoenix tree is a massive sculpture carved out of the trunk and roots of a red gum by noted sculptor Hans Knorr. A signboard explains its significance as a tribute to the town.

Michelini's Wines
Opposite the Phoenix Tree are the recently-established Michelini's Wines. They are open for tastings daily, tel: (03) 5751 1990.

Rosewhite Vineyard
Head south-east along the Great Alpine Rd to Ovens (5 km) where there is a signposted turnoff on the left. 4 km along this road to Mount Beauty is Rosewhite Vineyards (in Happy Valley Road) which was established in 1983. It produces cabernet sauvignon, traminer, chardonnay, pinot noir, shiraz and old tawny port. It is open weekends and public holidays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. except in January when it is open every day, tel: (03) 5752 1077.

Old School Museum
The Old School Museum contains a collection of material pertaining to local history. It is located in the old Myrtleford school in Elgin St and is open from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. on Sundays. Otherwise just pull into town and ring the number posted on the door.

Reform Hill
Elgin St is also the starting point of the walking track to the lookout at Reform Hill. By car you can follow Halls Rd then turn right into Scenic Drive. You will eventually reach a T-intersection. A left leads to the Reform Hill lookout and a right to Tower Hill Lookout.

Parks
The town has a number of delightful picnic spots, such as the banks of Happy Valley Creek in Jubilee Park, adjacent the highway and opposite the post office in the centre of town. There are picnic facilities. It is pleasant to walk from the swing bridge on the western side of the park along the banks of the creek.

There is also a pleasant swimming hole further south along Standish St, at Nimmo Bridge which spans the Ovens River. There is a camping area adjacent.

Rotary Park is located on the western outskirts of town, opposite the Savoy Club, on the Great Alpine Rd. Cundy Park is at the corner of O'Donnell Ave and Standish St.

The giant Red Gum

Red Gum
In Smith St you will find a giant old red gum which is 18 m tall and 8 m in circumference with a 27-m spread.

Ovens Valley State Forests
There are large tracts of bush and forest in the area which are popular with 4WD drivers.. They are generally closed until late November. Ring the local office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment for maps and advice. They are located in McGeehan Crescent, tel: (03) 5752 1911.

Deer, Emu and Ostrich Farm
The Snow Lion Red Deer Stud, Emu Farm and Restaurant is located 15 km south-east along the Great Alpine Rd at Eurobin. It is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Other times are possible but only for large groups and only by prior arrangement. Visitors can wander around and observe the deer, ostriches, emus and other farm animals. Driving tours into the local forest are sometimes run, but only for large groups and only if staff numbers are sufficient and the weather is fine, tel: (03) 5756 2365.

Horse and Dingo Stud
The Nug Nug Quarter Horse and Dingo Stud is 16 km south on Buffalo River Rd. It is only open for large groups, tel: (03) 5754 2209.

Lake Buffalo
Fishing and watersports are popular at Lake Buffalo, 24 km south via Buffalo River Rd which heads off the Great Alpine Rd. There are no facilities other than a toilet block and wood barbecues. Fishing is also popular on the Ovens and Buffalo Rivers, Rose River and Barwidgee Creek.

	Motels
	Golden Leaf Motor Inn Ovens Hwy Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1566 Rating: ***
	Standish St Motel 101 Standish St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1221 Rating: **
	Motel on Alpine 258 Myrtle St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1438 Facsimile: (03) 5752 1256 Email: admin@motelonalpine.com Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Myrtleford Hotel/Motel Standish St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1078
	Ovens Valley Electrical Clyde St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5751 1628
	Railway Hotel Standish St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1583
	Caravan Parks
	Arderns Caravan Park Willow Grove P.O. Box 152 Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1394 Rating: **
	Myrtleford Caravan Park Lewis Ave Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1598 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Golden Leaf Motor Inn Ovens Hwy Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1566
	Myrtleford Savoy Club Myrtle St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5751 1296
	Range Restaurant 258 Myrtle St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 2885
	Roma Pizza Bar & Restaurant Standish St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1867
	Standish St Motel 101 Standish St Myrtleford VIC 3737 Telephone: (03) 5752 1221