Taradale. Advertisement for Bushells tea on the side of an old store.
Taradale.
This tiny village once had a much greater population which explains the several grand churches in the village. It was yet another Victorian goldfield. Gold was discovered here in 1852. In the 1870s the town had around 2,000 residents. On the edge of the village is the rail viaduct. A private company began the task of raising funds to build the first major country railway line in Victoria in 1854 but they were unsuccessful so the Victorian Railway Department was formed and the government undertook the task building, in stages, a superb double track railway line from Melbourne to Bendigo and beyond to the Murray River. The government railway work began in 1856 and the line was completed to the main goldfields of Castlemaine and Bendigo by 1862. The viaduct at Taradale was on of the largest steel bridges built in Victoria in the 19th century. Work on the bluestone and steel viaduct began in 1858 and was completed in 1862. The most outstanding building in Taradale even today is the former Holy Trinity Anglican Church which was built of red brick and rendered in 1859. It replaced an earlier wooden Anglican church built in 1856. The west front of the rendered church is impressive with strong vertical lines and Gothic features and an unusual louvre false door above the Gothic window. The town also once had Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, banks, Courthouse, police station, mechanics Institute and school etc. The public hall built as the Oddfellows Hall in 1865 still serves the local community. West of the main road you can still see the former Methodist Church which was built in 1865. The red bricks were made locally for it. Not visible from the road but also on the western side of the highway is the former Catholic Church built in 1870.
Taradale. Advertisement for Bushells tea on the side of an old store.
Taradale.
This tiny village once had a much greater population which explains the several grand churches in the village. It was yet another Victorian goldfield. Gold was discovered here in 1852. In the 1870s the town had around 2,000 residents. On the edge of the village is the rail viaduct. A private company began the task of raising funds to build the first major country railway line in Victoria in 1854 but they were unsuccessful so the Victorian Railway Department was formed and the government undertook the task building, in stages, a superb double track railway line from Melbourne to Bendigo and beyond to the Murray River. The government railway work began in 1856 and the line was completed to the main goldfields of Castlemaine and Bendigo by 1862. The viaduct at Taradale was on of the largest steel bridges built in Victoria in the 19th century. Work on the bluestone and steel viaduct began in 1858 and was completed in 1862. The most outstanding building in Taradale even today is the former Holy Trinity Anglican Church which was built of red brick and rendered in 1859. It replaced an earlier wooden Anglican church built in 1856. The west front of the rendered church is impressive with strong vertical lines and Gothic features and an unusual louvre false door above the Gothic window. The town also once had Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, banks, Courthouse, police station, mechanics Institute and school etc. The public hall built as the Oddfellows Hall in 1865 still serves the local community. West of the main road you can still see the former Methodist Church which was built in 1865. The red bricks were made locally for it. Not visible from the road but also on the western side of the highway is the former Catholic Church built in 1870.