Population 6,629 (2011 census) Postcode(s) 3444 Elevation 519 m Postal code 3444 Federal division Division of Bendigo | Established 1850 State electorate(s) Macedon Founded 1850 Local time Monday 1:52 AM | |
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Location 83 km (52 mi) from Melbourne
65 km (40 mi) from Bendigo
75 km (47 mi) from Ballarat
33 km (21 mi) from Castlemaine LGA(s) Shire of Macedon Ranges Weather 20°C, Wind S at 11 km/h, 53% Humidity Points of interest Kyneton Museum, Kyneton Botanic Gardens, Bald Hill Road | ||
Kyneton victoria and surrounding area drone footage in 4k
Kyneton (/ˈkaɪntən/ KEYEN-tən) is a town in the Macedon Ranges region of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire.
Contents
- Kyneton victoria and surrounding area drone footage in 4k
- Map of Kyneton VIC 3444 Australia
- Kyneton pictorial
- History
- Media
- Tourist attractions
- Education
- Sport
- References
Map of Kyneton VIC 3444, Australia
The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street. Piper Street has the oldest streetscape of these, and still has many of its original buildings. The railway station, about 91 kilometres (57 mi) from Melbourne on the Bendigo railway line, is a terminus for two weekday peak-hour trains. The town is the council seat of the Shire of Macedon Ranges. At the 2011 census, Kyneton had a population of 6,629.
Kyneton is home to mineral springs, the Campaspe River, botanical gardens and historic houses, many with bluestone architecture. Kyneton hosts several events during the year including the ANZAC Day parade, Kyneton Daffodil Festival, Kyneton Agricultural show and the Kyneton Cup.
Kyneton pictorial
History
The explorer Major Thomas Mitchell crossed and named the Campaspe River near present-day Kyneton on his 1836 expedition. The first British settlers arrived in the area the same year.
Unlike a majority of towns in the area, Kyneton predates the Victorian gold rushes, having been established in 1850, whereas the gold rushes started the year after. At this time, Kyneton was a growing rural centre, and served as a major stop for those heading to the gold rushes at Mount Alexander and Bendigo. The post office opened on 1 July 1843 as Mount Macedon and was renamed Kyneton on 1 January 1854.
In November 1857, the humanitarian Caroline Chisholm moved her family to Kyneton, where her husband Archibald sat on the magistrates' bench and their two elder sons ran a store.
Kyneton Mounted Rifle Corps was formed in 1859, as one of the volunteer brigades set up when Britain was involved in wars in Afghanistan, Crimea and India. The Kyneton Mounted Rifle Corps was among the earliest in the colony of Victoria. The corps was later amalgamated in the 1880s to form the Victorian Mounted Rifles. Although the individual volunteer units had been disbanded by Federation (1901), many members became part of the 4th and 12th regiments of Light Horse at the Battle of Beersheba (1917) against Turkish troops of the Ottoman Empire.
Sir Stanley Argyle, Premier of Victoria 1932-35, was born in Kyneton in 1867.
The Kyneton Courthouse tried Ned Kelly in 1870 for robbery under arms. This courthouse has since continued to function, although only as a magistrates court on Mondays.
Media
Kyneton's main locally produced newspaper is the Midland Express, which also serves Castlemaine. The town receives television from Mount Alexander, and is served by a community radio station, 100.7 Highlands FM, based in Woodend.
Tourist attractions
Kyneton offers tourists several points of interest locally including the Botanic Gardens (established in the mid-1800s) and several walks along the Campaspe River.
Various Farmers Markets and festivals throughout the year make the town popular as a day trip destination. The township also serves as a starting point for many nearby destinations, such as Trentham Falls and Hanging Rock in Newham.
Kyneton Museum, located in the old Bank of New South Wales building (built in 1856), houses an extensive collection of local historical items.
Being located well away from any heavily populated areas and their inherent light pollution, Kyneton is also a destination for astronomers seeking a clear view of the Southern Hemisphere night skies due to relatively low pollution levels as opposed to Australian cities. The Cobaw Plateau is host to a 500 hectare facility for astronomical observation.
Education
Kyneton is centrally located among several outlying towns and serves as an educational hub for primary and secondary students. The following educational institutions are located in the main township:
Sport
The town has an Australian rules football team, Kyneton Football Club, competing in the Bendigo Football League .It is here where, Kyneton legend, Laurie Raines started his football career.
Kyneton has a horse racing club, the Kyneton District Racing Club, which schedules around sixteen race meetings a year including the Kyneton Cup meeting in November (always the day after the Melbourne Cup). In 2009 the Kyneton District Racing Club partnered with the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE to use the facilities of the racecourse and its extensive grounds as an educational training facility.
Golfers play at the course of the Kyneton Golf Club on Black Hill Road.
Kyneton has a football team "The Rangers" which compete in the Melbourne Division 3 under the FFV banner.