Welcome to Inglewood - The Blue Eucalyptus & Gold Town.

Inglewood, with a population of  834,  is situated 199 km from Melbourne on the Calder Highway, and around 50km (30mins) from Bendigo.  As a larger town in the Shire, it’s main role is a service town for the surrounding rural districts and smaller communities.  Farm production in the area continues to be based on dry land farming of grains and sheep, along with eucalyptus oil, timber, boutique nut, grape and wine production.

With an easy commute to Bendigo,  some  folk have also recognized and are enjoying the peace and benefits of living in a smaller community.

However, the true nature of Inglewood is as the historic gold mining town that presents a vision of the past.   Strolling along the main Brooke Street with it’s historic buildings and facades, turning the corner into Verdon Street and view the glorious Town Hall building and the Tivey mansion.  Al this brings to life the wealth derived from the goldfields and the hustle and bustle of the bygone era.  
The second string to Inglewood’s bow is the “Blue eucy” industry, so much a part of the town and district’s history.    At the north end of the town,   the old Jones distillery site is being developed into a museum and wayside area, dedicated to the eucalyptus history of Inglewood and surrounding districts.

Make a date for the weekend of 31 October & 1 Nov 2009!

Celebrations occurred on 31 October and 1 Nov 2009 to mark 150 Years of Gold activities in the district. A great weekend of activities and music played out in excellent weather.

Inglewood  has an active district historical society, which stages numerous court-house re-enactments in our court house.  Definitely not to be missed, so chat to the Loddon Alive crew for the next showing details. So please feel welcome to visit and fossick around the town, and have some fun on our patch!

Services

Our community services, clubs and places of interest:

• Tourist attractions, Gold prospecting, Historical precinct buildings
• Supermarkets, hardware, chemist, specialty shops, banks and hotels
• Netball, golf, bowls,  horse riding, walking, cricket and football clubs
• Churches, Primary schools, Pre-school
• Harness racing precinct and training track
• Permanent police, Fire brigade, DSE and Parks Victoria
• Hospital, nursing home, hostel, doctor,  ambulance and visiting services
• Inglewood & district health services / Child welfare centre
• Accommodation - Motel  and caravan park
• Fuel stop and roadhouse
• Inglewood Historical society
• Inglewood Community Resource Centre
• Swimming centre,
• Men’s shed
• Walking club and senior citizens centre
• Public transport – Vline bus services North and South
• Service clubs - Rotary, Lions , RSL.
• A range of experienced tradesmen:
• Inglewood Development and Tourism committee.

Recreation In Inglewood

Recreational facilities include all the normal active sporting clubs.   The golf course is seasonal (Autumn to Spring) and visitors are invited.   The bowls club mounts a pennant team and competition is always keen, but visitors and new bowlers are always welcome.  Football and netball are the major activities in the cooler months and tennis in the summer.

The surrounding forests provide the key to many recreation activities.   Gold prospecting rates highly for the energetic, with permits available in the town at Oakley’s, 83 Brooke St. The forest is alive with birds in the morning and dusk,  the Box-Ironbark stands, mallee bush and open dry land paddocks support a wide variety of species and  plants and native animals.

Of course, you cannot visit Inglewood and the district without a trip to the spectacular Melville’s Caves and the wildlife of the Mt Kooyoora State Park.  The park covers an area of some 3455 hectares of granite, with the peak capped by a mass of huge boulders some forming cave-like shelters. The use of these by the bushranger Captain Melville and his gang gave the name Melville's Caves.   Evidence of the Koori habitation in the area may be seen in the form of "wells" and canoe trees.  The lookout provides panoramic views of the district, walking trails give easy access to the many points of interest, with camping areas provided at designated locations.  
Plans are well advanced for a network of walking and riding trails around the township, where you can enjoy the magnificent historic sites, homes and buildings of the town.  But no need to wait, as heritage information signs are posted around the town on the key sites.
The Inglewood Botanic gardens are situated beneath the old reservoir and historic settling ponds, which are both worthy of exploring for an hour or so after a barbecue.   Then stroll across the road and up to the lookout for marvelous 360o views, the poppet head and a puzzle: where’s the town?

Need some information?  Stop at the Inglewood Community Resource Centre at the North end of Brooke St for a map and the friendly staff will assist you.

Inglewood Walking Tracks

Inglewood has some fantastic walking tracks. To help you get around, we've included some maps below. The maps are actually a lot bigger than shown here on the page, so you can download them by clicking the right mouse button and selecting "Save As".