Dunkeld: History, Art and Walking Trails

Dunkeld appeals to travellers who want to combine history, art and scenery in one stay. The Dunkeld & District Historical Museum, the Dunkeld Heritage Trail and various galleries offer different cultural attractions. Nearby, walking trails add views and changing landscapes. When choosing holiday accommodation in Dunkeld, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on local history, art or outdoor activity.

Discover Dunkeld’s history

The Dunkeld & District Historical Museum preserves a large number of artefacts from numerous eras and events in social history. Another focus is material relating to Major Mitchell’s exploration of southwestern Victoria and his expedition. The museum therefore offers both broader insights into social history and a specific connection to this expedition.

The Dunkeld Heritage Trail is a leisurely, accessible walk through Dunkeld’s history. Its 26 sites feature iron information plaques. Among other things, the trail tells the story of the fire in January 1944 that destroyed a third of the houses and shops in Dunkeld. This offers a different way to explore local history than viewing artefacts in the museum: here, plaques bring the story to life at various sites around town.

Collections, galleries and art

The Australian Light Horse Heritage Collection displays Light Horse memorabilia. Its collection includes a charger’s tunic from Beersheba. Public admission to this collection was made free. Those interested in military memorabilia will find a clearly defined subject area here, distinct from the social history covered by the museum.

Art also takes different forms in Dunkeld. The Dunkeld Garage Gallery gives artists the opportunity to present their work to visitors and local residents. The Waiting Room Art Gallery displays fine ceramics, ceramic sculptures, paintings and drawings by Anne Fleming. It also takes part in Dunkeld’s “Galleries and Gardens” weekends on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. This combination of different art forms and a regular event may be useful for planning your trip if you enjoy including gallery visits in your stay.

Arboretum and nearby trails

The Dunkeld Arboretum includes an old sawmill and presents a living collection of trees from around the world. Nature and history meet there in two distinct features: a collection of living trees and a historic sawmill. Near Dunkeld, the Wurgarri (Mount Sturgeon) Walk offers panoramic views of the surrounding ranges, volcanic plains and the township of Dunkeld.

The trails around Dunkeld also offer different experiences. Bainggug (The Piccaninny) is a leisurely walk suitable for most hikers, with wildflowers in spring. The Mud-Dadjug (Mount Abrupt) Walk leads through bushland in Gariwerd and over sandstone rocks to the summit. From there, views extend north to the Serra Range and south to Dunkeld. These specific differences can help you choose between a leisurely walk, spring wildflowers and a trail over rocks to the summit, depending on what best suits your preferred day’s plans.

Local stops and food

Dunkeld is the southern gateway to the Grampians Peaks Trail. For hikers on this trail, the Dunkeld and Grampians Visitor Information Centre provides public showers around the clock. The Old Bakery, meanwhile, specialises in handmade sourdough bread, gourmet pies, pastries and cakes. Alongside the cultural and scenic highlights, the town therefore offers a specific food option and a practical stop for trail hikers.

More destinations

If you’d like to explore more places: Woodend, Jumbunna, Rheola, St Andrews Beach, Marengo, Whittlesea, Brooklyn, Sunshine West.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.