Discover the hidden gem of Heathcote, a picturesque town known for its world-famous Shiraz and stunning scenery.

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With world-famous Shiraz; picturesque scenery; half an hour to Bendigo; and easy access to Melbourne, Heathcote is a true hidden gem. 

Located on the land of the Woiwurrung people, European pastoralists started farming the land around Heathcote in the 1840s. Major Mitchell, who passed through the area in the 1830s, named McIvor Creek after a man in his group of explorers and it was this creek that was the site of the first gold discovery in 1852. One year later, the population had swollen to 40,000 (with an additional reported 60,000 setting up home in nearby Greytown). There is some debate over the name ‘Heathcote’. It could be a nod to Sir William Heathcote – a British politician of the time, or simply a reference to the abundance of wild heath that was, and still is, grown in the region.

By 1854, the gold prospectors had moved on and the population settled at a far more modest 2,000. It was around this time that land sales commenced and within a decade there were multiple breweries, over 20 hotels, two flour mills, a bacon factory, a hospital, a court house and a Catholic church. In 1875 a primary school opened and from the 1880s until 1965, a passenger rail service ran between Heathcote and Bendigo. This abandoned railway line is now known as the O’Keefe Rail Trail and hundreds of hikers, runners, walkers and cyclists traverse the tracks each year. 

Reputed to have the longest main street in the southern hemisphere, what Heathcote is truly renowned for is its quality wine. With more than 50 wineries in the area, and the calcium-rich Cambrian soil providing a solid base for the vines, the industry really took off in the late 1970s. Winning global awards and selling at top restaurants around the world, there is certainly a quality drop to be found. The annual Heathcote Food & Wine Festival is every October. 

There is an agricultural show each November, and the town is home to basketball, Aussie rules, netball and cricket teams, and also offers a golf course, and a harness racing track (that doubles as a speedway). With a combination of Victorian-era cottages along with more modern builds, the town continues to grow whilst still retaining that charming country feel. 

Heathcote at a glance

Information based on the 2021 Census results

Population: 2,962

Male: 50.9%

Female: 49.1%

Median age: 57

Families: 788

Private dwellings: 1,694

Average people per household: 2

Median monthly mortgage repayments: $1,291

Median weekly rent: $255