maldon.net.au

Our goal is to be the best website about Maldon. That is not easy, of course, because there are many websites providing information about Maldon (like maldoninformation.com, for example). However, over time we will monitor what info. on Maldon is being provided, and attempt to show you something different.

Maldon means different things to different people. To some people it is a gold-mining town, pure and simple, always was, always will be. Their point of view has been strengthened during 2007, since Alliance has resumed underground mining. At the time of these words being written, the new decline had been driven over 1000 metres towards the Alliance South target - approximately another 1000 metres further on.

However, there have been many years during the mid-to-late 20th century when you could have visited Maldon and not seen any evidence of gold mining going-on at that time. If your interest in Maldon is because of gold, then maldongold.com may be a good site for you to visit.

As you can see from our menu (above), we have initially chosen to provide information on some common subjects (like "what's on in Maldon", and "Maldon historical milestones"). However we have balanced these with some items that can be more difficult to find info on (such as "Maldon's inventors", and "W B Gray"). Our usual advice to people seeking information about Maldon is: "Come and see for yourself, and don't just come for a day-trip - stay a night or two to really experience Maldon". To help those that take up this suggestion, we have provided a selection of accommodation providers in Maldon for you to choose from.

The image at the left shows one of the signs that were erected at the entrances to Maldon, to proclaim its status as a "Notable Town". This status was confered upon the town by the National Trust of Australia.

Special – Eaglehawk Gully Apartment

Looking for somewhere to take that special someone for a night to remember?

Maldon's historic EAGLEHAWK GULLY APARTMENT has the following fantastic package

available between Wednesday and Sunday nights:

Chocolates and a bottle of succulent local wine on arrival;

Dinner for two at the local restaurant everyone is talking about – Maldon’s “The Two Fat Men”;

One night’s luxury accommodation including a wonderful country style cooked breakfast with late check-out.

Our introductory offer for this fabulous package is $225.00 (a saving of $45.00) and forward bookings are essential.

This special price is only available to the first 10 couples to contact us on 5475 1449.

Yvonne and Laurie are famous for their warm hospitality and high quality accommodation. So contact them now at The Eaglehawk Gully Apartment for that special night to remember.

N.B. This offer is not redeemable for cash. Nor is it transferable.

William Gray was a remarkable Maldon resident who was associated with many Maldon organisations over the years. He was a Freemason, an Oddfellow, and he was the founding president of the Maldon Australian Natives Association. He was president of the Maldon and Baringhup Agricultural Society.

He was a Maldon Shire councillor from 1887 until the year that he died (1904). During his time on the council, he was Shire President on 4 occassions: 1889-1890,1892-1894,1898-1900,1901-1903. His political career also took him to the Victorian Parliament, where he was a Member of the Legislative Council from June 1901 to his death in July 1904.

Gray was also a Railway Contractor, whose works included the Castlemaine to Maldon line, and the Tatura to Echuca line. However he is probably most remembered because he persuaded the Victorian goverment to purchase the rights to use the patented South African process of cyaniding gold extraction. This allowed miners in the state to re-process the tailings left from past mining operations, and thus obtain much more gold.

Over the years, Maldon people has shown themselves to be quite inventive. In some cases it was just a minor improvement to the way that things were done, but at times there have be some significant inventions. However, when searching the world-wide web for information on Maldon inventors, one is frustrated by the many references to George Michell, and his invention the Michell Thrust Bearing. Michell was a brilliant man, and his thrust bearing was a significant invention, but other Maldon inventors should be also remembered for their achievments. The advances made by Crisp and Jones are fairly well known, and details are given on the maldonstyle website. If you asked someone to name another Maldon inventor, they would probably struggle to come up with a name. However, there are several that have their name on patents, and even more if you take in the surrounding region.

The tradition of inventing by Maldon people is still being carried on today. An example of a recent Maldon invention is "The Lean Pole". This device is the brain-child of Gary Henshall, of Three Chain Rd., Maldon. The Lean Pole is a telescopic pole system, that extends from the ground - at various heights - in order to provide a fixed structure on which the public can lean or sit. It retracts into the ground when not in use. The removable version is also telescopic and fits into permanent inground sleeves. The device can be used in public places and parks as an alternative support for the public when viewing events and activity.

An interesting and attractive feature of Maldon's historic cemetery is the Chinese burning tower (usually referred to as an "oven", but this is incorrect). The burning tower was used in the ritualized burning of spiritual tributes. These paper and cardboard facsimiles of money, clothing, possessions, and houses, for example, were to accompany the deceased to the afterlife. Burning these items passes them to the spirit realm.

Such funary burners exist in the Chinese sections of ceneteries in several parts of the world. Usually there is very little documentation available on the dates of these structures or on the person or persons who built them. However, the one in Maldon's cemetery is known to have been built by John South.

In 1853, brothers Henry and John South emigrated to Australia and settled in Maldon. John turned his hand to brickmaking and bricklaying. The gold rush had attracted a significant Chinese population and John was employed to construct the ornamental brick tower in the local cemetery. Now a listed building, the "oven" is a tourist attraction. Descendants of the brothers continue to live in Maldon.