Taradale, Victoria



Taradale is a small historic scenic town in the Central Victorian Highlands. First established in 1861, it is located 103 kilometres (64 miles) north-west of Melbourne on the Calder Highway between Melbourne and Bendigo. Its local government area is the Shire of Mount Alexander. It is surrounded by rolling hills and native bushlands. Many small creeks in this area feed into the Coliban River and walking tracks link many historical landmarks. Originally a goldfields hamlet and now primarily a farming area, the Taradale area has many historical features including The Royal Oak Trees which were planted in 1863 to celebrate the marriage of Queen Victoria’s eldest son Edward Prince of Wales. In the 1860s, when the Gold Rush extended to the Valley, it was quite a substantial town of 5,000 people, which probably didn’t include the 3000 or so Chinese working just a little farther up Back Creek, a tributary of the Loddon.

The town is also located on the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway Line, although the station was closed in 1976. The Taradale Viaduct, which carries the railway 36 metres above Back Creek, was built between 1858 and 1862. Iron supports were put in place in 1933 to carry the weight of the heavy steam locos and goods trains.

Taradale Post Office opened on 1 March 1856.

Taradale has now been bypassed by the Calder Freeway.