Hepburn Springs
Pleasant town famous for its spring water
Hepburn Springs is a delightful and relaxing resort town with a pleasant environment, mountain scenery, forestry and numerous parks and recreation areas. It is situated on a ridge which is over 600 m above sea-level. The town is 114 km north-west of Melbourne and 48 km north-east of Ballarat.

Prior to European settlement the area is thought to have been occupied by the Djadja Wurrung Aborigines. The town is named after Captain Hepburn who passed through the area during an overland trip from Sydney to Port Phillip in 1836-37. Impressed with what he saw he took up land here in 1838.

Alluvial gold was found on the townsite in December 1851. Thousands arrived the following year at the 'Jim Crow Diggings' and a town began to accrete. As the alluvial gold ran out, a new camp, with many Chinese diggers, was established at Breakneck Gorge in 1859.

At the peak of the goldrush there were many Italians and Swiss living here and their influence on the gardens and architecture has been profound; bestowing upon the town a European feel. Moreover, the prosperity of the gold days has left a legacy of substantial buildings (and abandoned mineshafts), including some guesthouses which display paraphernalia associated with the town's early days.

However, the town is best-known for the odourless, effervescent mineral water which emanates from its many springs (hand pumps are scattered around town, dispensing the water free of charge). This natural resource was discovered during the goldmining of the 1850s, although the mullock heaps which emerged from the goldmining activity curtailed the flow of some springs. This led to the formation of a committee in 1868 which cleared up the site. The dual attraction of the waters and the picturesque setting saw the town became a fashionable spa resort, particularly when the railway arrived in 1881. Local residents offered visitor accommodation while guesthouses, bungalows, luxury hotels with orchestras and formal dinners, ballrooms, theatres, pavilions and baths emerged to service the clientele.

The resort fell out of favour in the Great Depression. However, since the early 1980s interest in the town and the local waters have revived. Consequently, the spa complex has been restored and extended and it is now visited each year by thousands of people from a great range of social backgrounds.

In conjunction with the adjacent town of Daylesford, with which it is closely interconnected by urban sprawl (combined population: 5500), Hepburn Springs is known as the 'Spa Centre of Australia' with 50 % of the country's known and active mineral water outlets and another 30 % located nearby.

There are a number of annual events associated with Hepburn Springs-Daylesford. The main festival is the Swiss-Italian Festa; a celebration of the town's Swiss-Italian heritage which is held on the last weekend in May. The Opera By The Lake Festival is held in February while Chill Out, a gay-lesbian event, is held on the weekend after the long weekend in March. There is an arts-and-crafts festival on the weekend after Easter, the Begonia Festival is held at Daylesford in March, the Midwinter Festival throughout July, the Agricultural Show on the last Saturday in November and the Daylesford Highland Gathering takes place on the first weekend of December. The New Year's Eve Gala is also a major local event.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
The Dayleford Visitors' Centre is located next to the post office in Vincent St, Daylesford, and is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily, tel: (03) 5348 1339.

Jacksons Lookout Tower
This lookout, on Forest Ave, offers panoramic views of the town and area.

The Blowhole
The Blowhole was created in the 1850s when goldminers used dynamite to create a tunnel through a quartz reef in order to divert Sailor's Creek. This enabled them to scour the old creek bed for alluvial gold. The Blowhole is located along a side road which heads off Blowhole Rd and it is also on the Tipperary Walking Track (see below). It looks quite impressive when the creek is flowing strongly. There is a short loop walk around The Blowhole and an explanatory plaque.

Hepburn Springs Spa Complex
The spa complex is located off Mineral Springs Crescent in Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. It is built around an Edwardian pavilion which has been greatly extended with sympathetic additions in the last decade. Every kind of hydrotherapy imaginable is on offer. There are also massage therapies and beauty therapy for every inch of your body, tel: (03) 5348 2034. The complex opens from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on weekends and from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on weekdays.

There are innumerable businesses and individuals in town offering every kind of massage known to humanity, as well as reiki, shiatsu, acupuncture, aromatherapy, refloxology, spiritual healing, readings etc. They are listed in a brochure available from the Daylesford Visitors' Centre.

Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve
The Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve is really the focal point of the town . It is located atop rock strata and volcanic basins formed by three extinct volcanoes. Waters, trapped in these basins, have slowly leached minerals from 450-million-year-old rocks: minerals which are believed to have a curative effect. The reserve's four major springs are Locarno, Sulphur, Soda and Wyuna.

The attractive park-like grounds are well-established and well-maintained with picnic and playground facilities, toilets, shady trees and an abundance of bird and animal life. Hand pumps and continuous-flow pipes are scattered about and you can bottle or drink your own water free of charge. Mountain bikes can be hired from the Pavillion Cafe. They are ideal for exploring the area's old mining and logging tracks.

Walks
A number of signposted walks fan out from the reserve: to Hepburn Reservoir (5 km return), Jacksons Lookout Tower (2 km return) and Argyle Spring (2.8 km return). The latter can be started from the reserve carpark or from Wyuna Spring.

The major walking trail, however, is the Tipperary Walking Track which explores Hepburn Regional Park. It is quite an easy-going and well-signposted course which is partially built on old water races from the goldmining era. 16.7 km in all, it can be broken into shorter sections thus:

(1) From the reserve to Golden Spring (at the end of Golden Springs Ave) via Jacksons Lookout Tower (2.8 km).

(2) From Golden Spring, following Spring Creek past Liberty Spring to Breakneck Gorge from whence there are excellent views and plenty of rosellas (2.2 km).

(3) Cross the Newstead Rd bridge over the gorge and follow the southbound course of Sailor's Creek to The Blowhole (3.1 km).

(4) Follow the signs and cross the bridge to Bryce's Flat Picnic Area (1.7 km).

(5) There are two tracks (one on either bank of Sailor's Creek) south to Tipperary Spring (3.3 km). The spring itself is located near the footbridge. Panning for gold and garnets is popular here.

(6) You can again follow either bank south to Twin Bridges picnic area (2.3 km).

(7) Cross the highway, follow Wombat Creek, try the waters at Sutton, Hardhills and Central Springs and finish at Lake Daylesford (1.3 km).

Old Macaroni Factory
The old macaroni factory is a large hand-made brick structure on Main Rd which was erected in 1859 by Italian immigrants, the Lucinis. It reflects the architectural traditions of Northern Italy. The facade is plastered and without decoration although the ceilings of the wings feature hand-painted decorations added by the Lucinis. The factory is being restored as funds become available. At the moment it is only open on special occasions, such as the Swiss-Italian Festa.

Other Buildings
The town has a number of fine old guesthouses which are of substantial architectural quality and some historic interest. Main Rd has Villa Parma, Bellinzona Country House, Dudley House, Mooltan Guesthouse and The Springs Hotel. The Liberty Guesthouse is on Mineral Springs Crescent, opposite the spa complex. The old post office (1863-1964) is also a bed-and-breakfast.

Lavandula Lavender Farm
If you follow the Hepburn-Newstead Rd north for 5.2 km you will come to Lavandula Lavender Farm at Shepherds Flat. The lavender is best seen in summer. The Swiss-Italian heritage is reflected in the 1850s stone farm buildings, dry stone walling, cobbled courtyard, lombardy poplars and the herb, cottage and potager gardens. There are fine views, llamas and farm animals, a licensed trattoria and a shop selling lavender products and other items. The Lavender Harvest Festival on January 10, 1999 features folk singing, dancing, wine tasting and local stalls. The admission fee is minimal. Opening hours are 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. every day but Tuesday from September to May and on weekends only in June, tel: (03) 5476 4393.

Horseriding
The Boomerang Holiday Ranch, 1 km west of Daylesford on Tipperary Springs Rd, offers accommodation and one-hour trail rides in the local forests, tel: (03) 5348 2525. There is also Turner's Horse Farm at Guildford, tel: (03) 5476 4288.

	Motels
	Hepburn Springs Motor Inn 105 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3234 Facsimile: (03) 5348 3207 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Savoia Hotel Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2314
	Springs Hotel Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2202 Facsimile: (03) 5348 2506 Rating: ***
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Liberty Guesthouse 20 Mineral Springs Cres. Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2809 Rating: **
	The Hepburn Chalet Guesthouse Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2344 Rating: ***
	Truro Guesthouse Daylesford-Newstead Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5476 4207 Rating: ***
	Beethams of Hepburn Springs Bed & Breakfast 9B Tenth St P.O. Box 44 Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 1632 Facsimile: (03) 5348 1632 Rating: ****
	Dudley Guesthouse 101 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3033 Facsimile: (03) 5348 3033 Rating: ****
	Genoa Accommodation Bed & Breakfast 28 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 1151 Rating: ****
	Mooltan Guesthouse 129 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3555 Facsimile: (03) 5348 3555
	Perini Bed & Breakfast 4 Eighth St Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 1620 Facsimile: (03) 5348 1620 Rating: ****
	Bellinzona Country Guesthouse 77 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2271 Rating: ***
	Cloverhill Guesthouse 16 Forest Ave Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3498 Facsimile: (03) 5348 3498 Rating: ****
	Cottages & Cabins
	Hepburn & Amberley Cottages 17 Church Ave Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 9557 1035 Rating: **
	Poolway Cottages Cnr Borsa Cres. & Sixth St Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 1049 Rating: ***
	Four Seasons Cottages Forest Ave Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5248 1221 Rating: ****
	Linga Longa Cosy Cottages 112 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3317 Rating: **
	Lodges & Chalets
	Heritage House Lodge 21 Spa Ave Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2766 or (03) 9579 0764 Rating: ***
	Caravan Parks
	Springs Caravan Park Forest Ave P.O. Box 34 Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3161 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Bellinzona Country Guesthouse Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2271
	Briley Restaurant Main St Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3234
	Dudley Guesthouse 101 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3033
	Hepburn Springs Motor Inn 105 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3234
	Hepburn Springs Palais Theatre Restaurant Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 4849
	Mooltan Guesthouse 129 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 3555
	Springs Hotel Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2202
	The Hepburn Chalet Guesthouse Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5348 2344
	Truro Guesthouse Daylesford-Newstead Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Telephone: (03) 5476 4207