North East Victoria, Australia
I looked up that that Yackandandah is Jiatmathang country, and there is evidence dating back 2000 years of the Dhudhuroa people occupying this area before the arrival of the Europeans. The name Yackandandah translates to “one boulder on top of another at the junction of two creeks” . This place is one of many well preserved historical villages in north-east Victoria. Like many, its European history is in gold mining and dates back to 1855.
For more historical facts about these old towns, I must point you to an amazingly good website:
https://historicalaustraliantowns.blogspot.com/2019/12/yackandandah-well-preserved-gold-mining.html
Yackendandah is 3 hours out of Melbourne by car and on the day we were there the town was alive with visitors and tourists, many of mature age, leisurely making their way along the main street. Coffee shops and bakeries are thriving (as they do in these towns) along with some good eating places. Well supported by the locals, as evidenced by the large number of dogs with their owners at the tables of the sidewalk cafés.
I did not take a photo to show you here, but the town is notable for an Athenaeum, built in 1878. This temple-like building was built to be a gathering place for the people, containing books, periodicals and reading rooms. It was to be place of learning, a book club and social hub. Apparently it was to hold 3000 books . Later it gained a full size billiard table which I imagine brought much joy to the male population and perhaps not so much to their spouses.
Every town has it’s war memorial. The Autumn colours were well in evidence everywhere in late April.
BELOW: The old bank building and a specialist hat shop. These towns often have superb hat shops and this was no exception. Old wares and antiques stores abound.
BELOW: That’s the Yackandandah Hotel across the road.
BELOW: A plethora of antiques and old wares, spilling out onto the sidewalk.
BELOW: Nearby Woolshed Falls. This waterfall was the site of gold mining activity. A handrail was built into the rocks which the miners used to hang onto in order to access a particular area without coming to grief on the rocks below.
If I had read the “Historical Australian Towns” website (mentioned above) before visiting Yackandandah, I think I would have found the place even more interesting to explore and spent more time there. A beautiful and history-filled little corner of Australia and well worth seeing.
Dancing with Magpies HOME 
Old bloody villages filled with old bloody geezers. Tragic that I find that quite appealing!
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