"Most intact heritage streetscape character"

Maldon prides itself that it provides a living history of the 1850's goldmining era and does not have to depend on reproductions. The streetscape has basically retained the appearance it had from that era with its buildings being restored and used for commercial purposes. The shops from that period are still operating as shops, the hotels continue to operate as hotels and the larger commercial buildings are being used for shops and visitor accommodation.

Prior to the discovery of gold, the area that was to become the township of Maldon was part of the large Tarrangower pastoral run. Gold was discovered in a gully at the base of Mount Tarrangower in 1853 and the township of Tarrangower was established, later to be renamed Maldon. As the amount of gold that was mined increased so the town increased in size and the quality of buildings improved, with a number of substantial buildings being constructed. When the gold that could be mined economically petered out, the last gold mine closed in 1928 and with the effects of the depression the town went into a state of suspension.

The concepts and philosophy of the Burra Charter were being followed in Maldon many years before the Charter was produced in 1977. In 1964 a study by the University of Melbourne’s School of Architecture produced a report that led to the National Trust recognising the historic importance of the town and declaring Maldon a “Notable Town” in 1966. The Trust was concerned that unless controls were introduced to protect the historic character of the town changes could occur that would reduce the original character. A report was prepared by the Trust in 1969, “Proposals for the Conservation of Maldon”, resulting in the “Maldon Planning Scheme”being introduced in 1977 - the first statutory attempt in Victoria to achieve the historic conservation of a whole town.

These studies resulted in the provision of the Maldon Restoration Fund to provide low interest loans for restoration projects and a Heritage Advisor to implement the existing controls on restoration works and the design of new buildings. The result of these controls is that the streetscape is the that seen in photographs from the 1860s.

The restoration of buildings in Maldon is an ongoing project with work being funded by the owners, private organisations, government grants and public appeals. The most recent projects have been the restoration of the Maldon Hospital; the restoration of the Uniting Church; the repairs of the stone drain that runs below the town; the restoration of the Court House; the restoration of the town’s stone gutters; and current fund raising project to restore the roof of the Holy Trinity Church.