Benalla: Roses, a Walking Loop and History

Walking, Roses and History in Benalla

Benalla offers several different reasons to visit: the 4.25 km Benalla Lake Loop, the variety of roses at the Benalla Botanical Gardens, and museums showcasing local memorabilia and Australian history. Families can consider whether they want their stay to focus on exercise, gardens or historical topics. Each attraction has its own focus—from a circuit on foot, running or by bicycle to exhibitions about Benalla and its history.

A Circuit on Foot, Running or by Bike

The Benalla Lake Loop is a 4.25 km circuit that can be used for walking, running or cycling. Its length gives you a specific point of reference when considering how an active route might fit into your day. If you’re travelling with children, you can discuss in advance which of the three options best suits your plans for the day; the route remains the same, while your chosen way of getting around changes the nature of the outing.

Summer Roses

The Benalla Botanical Gardens are known for their wide variety of roses, which bloom throughout the summer. If you’re interested in gardens and roses, this gives your trip a distinctly seasonal focus: the flowering season extends across summer and is not limited to a single specified event day. This differs from a circuit, which can be described by its length and the different ways of getting around. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether summer and the variety of roses suit your family’s interests, or whether exercise and cultural history should be more central.

Benalla’s Memories and the Kelly Story

The permanent exhibitions at the Costume and Kelly Museum feature memorabilia from Benalla, the Kelly story and three famous sons of Benalla. The museum brings together local memories and a broader historical subject. Notable exhibits include a portable prison cell in which Ned Kelly was once imprisoned, his blood-stained sash and his bridle. These items provide tangible points of reference for the Kelly story: alongside memorabilia and Benalla’s three famous sons, the focus also includes objects associated with Ned Kelly. If you’re interested in history, you can consider these topics as a focus in their own right, alongside the active or garden-related parts of a stay.

A Look at Australia’s Military Flight Training

The Benalla Aviation Museum offers a glimpse into the history of Australia’s military flight training. It is located at the historic site of a RAAF pilot training school from the Second World War. The museum therefore focuses both on training and on the site’s historical connection to the history of aviation in Australia. This focus differs from the memorabilia and Kelly story at the Costume and Kelly Museum: here, military flight training takes centre stage. If you’re looking for holiday accommodation in Benalla for your trip, these different interests can help you decide what kind of stay you’re looking for—active, garden-focused or more strongly shaped by history.

A Gallery on Bridge Street East

Art is another of Benalla’s attractions: the Benalla Art Gallery’s temporary pop-up gallery is open at 75 Bridge Street East in Benalla. Its temporary nature sets it apart from the permanent exhibitions at the Costume and Kelly Museum. Benalla offers several forms of cultural discovery, including a pop-up gallery, memorabilia and the Kelly story, as well as the history of military flight training. Together with the Lake Loop and the summer roses, these attractions offer different ways to tailor your stay to the interests of your travel group.

Discover more destinations: Moondarra, Torrumbarry, Dennington, Kerang, Menzies Creek, Dimboola, Mount Martha, Irymple.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.