Dunolly

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Dunolly | state = vic | image = Dunolly Main Street.JPG | caption = Broadway, the main street of Dunolly | use_lga_map = yes | coordinates = {{coord|36|51|0|S|143|44|0|E|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_label_position = right | lga = Shire of Central Goldfields | region = | postcode = 3472 | pop = 893 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}} | pop_footnotes = <ref name="abs">{{Census 2016 AUS | id = SSC25523 | name = Dunolly (State Suburb) | accessdate = 2007-10-01 | quick = on}}</ref> | est = | elevation= | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | stategov = [[Electoral district of Ripon|Ripon]] | fedgov = [[Division of Mallee|Mallee]] | dist1 = 188 | dir1 = NW | location1= [[Melbourne]] | dist2 = 61 | dir2 = W | location2= [[Bendigo, Victoria|Bendigo]] | dist3 = 23 | dir3 = N | location3= [[Maryborough, Victoria|Maryborough]] | near-n = [[Painswick, Victoria|Painswick]] | near-nw = [[Goldsborough, Victoria|Goldsborough]] | near-e = [[Laanecoorie, Victoria|Laanecoorie]] | near-se = [[Bromley, Victoria|Bromley]] | near-s = [[Bet Bet, Victoria|Bet Bet]] | near-sw = [[Mount Hooghly, Victoria|Mount Hooghly]] | near-w = [[Archdale Junction, Victoria|Archdale Junction]] | near-ne = [[Waanyarra, Victoria|Waanyarra]] }} '''Dunolly''' is a town in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]], [[Australia]], located on the Dunolly - Maryborough Road, in the [[Shire of Central Goldfields]]. At the [[2016 Australian census|2016 census]], Dunolly had a population of 893, down from 969 in 2006.

== History == The town began during the [[Victorian Gold Rush]]. It is located on the traditional lands of the [[Dja Dja Wurrung]] people, who called the area ''Lea Kuribur''.

One of the first accounts of the Dunolly Gold Rush was recorded by the ''[[Bendigo Advertiser]]'' on 3 July 1857 that estimated the population at 12,000. Confirmation of a rush followed on 10 July.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88051160|title=A great rush|last=|date=3 July 1856|work=Bendigo Advertiser (Victoria, Australia)|access-date=4 October 2017|pages=2}}</ref>

The exact date that Dunolly was founded is unknown. The location of the township itself moved four times before the 1856 rush, further adding to the confusion of its early history. The modern town is the 5th location, and was founded in July 1856 with the previous resettlements driven by further discoveries of gold leads.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dunolly, the Story of an Old Gold-diggings Town|last=Flett|first=James|publisher=Poppet Head Press|year=1956}}</ref> Technically, even at this time Dunolly was not a town. It was held as a municipality from 1858 to 1863, and wasn't officially declared a borough until 1 October 1863.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://members.westnet.com.au/likelyprospects/dunolly_municipality.html|title=Dunolly Municipality 1858–1863|website=members.westnet.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112171331/http://members.westnet.com.au/likelyprospects/dunolly_municipality.html|archive-date=12 January 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=4 October 2017}}</ref>

Goldborough Post Office opened on 1 March 1856 and was renamed Dunolly in 1859.<ref name = "Post Office ">{{Cite web| last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Dunolly* | access-date = 23 January 2021}}</ref>

One of the largest natural gold nuggets ever found, the legendary "[[Welcome Stranger]]", was discovered in nearby [[Moliagul, Victoria|Moliagul]] township.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Victoria/Moliagul/2005/02/17/1108500206985.html|title=Moliagul|website=www.theage.com.au|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref>

Rail came to Dunolly with the opening of the [[Mildura railway line]] in 1875. Another branch line that connected to [[Inglewood, Victoria|Inglewood]] in 1888.

The Dunolly Magistrates' Court closed on 1 August 1981.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/19860901-Special-Report-4-Court-Closures-in-Victoria.pdf | title=Special Report No. 4 - Court Closures in Victoria | publisher=Auditor-General of Victoria | date=1986 |pages=56 | accessdate=12 April 2020}}</ref>

== Attractions == Centred on the main street, Broadway, Dunolly features a rural transaction centre,<ref>{{cite web|title=Rural Transaction Centres|url=https://infrastructure.gov.au/department/annual_report/2002_2003/P3-3-2-18.aspx|website=infrastructure.gov.au|accessdate=4 October 2017}}</ref> [[State Emergency Service|SES]], [[Country Fire Authority|CFA]], a pre-school and a primary school, and many businesses. Dunolly hosts a monthly market for vendors from all over Victoria and other states.

Although Dunolly is located on a major rail line, no passenger services are available, but regular bus services offer travel to and from Dunolly.

There is a local museum on Broadway which has a large collection of historic photographs, goldfields implements, replicas of gold nuggets, ladies fashions, needlework, and guns. It also offers a [[Genealogy|family research]] facility and regular history tours.

Dunolly has become a favourite location for gold [[fossicking]] using metal detectors. In 2016–2017, gold nuggets of {{cvt|4|kg}} and {{cvt|4.3|kg}} were found near Dunolly. The nuggets have been valued at around $300,000.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Langmaid|first1=Aaron|title=Veteran prospector Syd Pearson tells of the moment he found a 4.3kg gold nugget|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/veteran-prospector-syd-pearson-tells-of-the-moment-he-found-a-43kg-gold-nugget-ng-b88491237z|website=The West Australian|accessdate=5 October 2017|date=30 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gold nugget weighing 4kg found in Victoria|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-25/gold-nugget-weighing-more-than-4kg-found-in-central-victoria/7785204|website=ABC News|accessdate=5 October 2017|language=en-AU|date=25 August 2016}}</ref>

==Sport and recreation== Dunolly has a prestigious 18 hole golf club, with sand greens and winding creeks, situated in Short St and caters for all classes of golfers.

;Dunolly Football / Netball Club The town's [[Australian Rules]] football and netball club, the Dunolly Eagles was formed in 1873 and has competed in the [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League]] since 2004.<ref name = "footy">{{Citation | website = Full Points Footy | title = Dunolly | url = http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/dunolly.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100612191242/http://fullpointsfooty.net/dunolly.htm | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 12 June 2010 | accessdate = 2009-04-15 }}</ref>

In 1892, Dunolly defeated St Arnaud and won the prize of 20 gold medals<ref>{{cite web |title=1892 - Country Football |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199330819 |publisher=The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) |access-date=18 September 2025 |page=7 |date=1 July 1892}}</ref> and in 1894 Dunolly defeated St Arnaud and won the Giles Premiership Trophy.<ref>{{cite web |title=1894 - Country Football |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197467582 |publisher=The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) |access-date=18 September 2025 |page=3 |date=9 August 1894}}</ref>

Star AFL recruits, [[Shannon Motlop]] and [[Robbie Ahmat]], played with the losing senior football team in the 2009 [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League]] grand final.<ref>{{cite web |title=2009 - MCDFNL Grand Final Result |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=122684261&c=0-6176-0-84309-0&pool=1001 |website=Gameday |publisher=MCDFNL |access-date=18 September 2025 |date=20 September 2009}}</ref>

*Football Timeline **1873 - 1891: Club formed and played friendly matches, but no formal competition **1892 - Giles Medals **1893 - ? **1894 - Giles Trophy **1895 - Dunolly Electorate Trophy (Mr Daniel Duggan, MLA<ref>{{cite web |title=Daniel Duggan Profile |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/daniel-duggan/ |website=Victorian Parliament |access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref>)<ref>{{cite web |title=1894 - Inglewood |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88953443 |publisher=Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918) |access-date=18 September 2025 |page=4 |date=17 May 1895}}</ref> [[Inglewood, Victoria|Inglewood]] defeated Dunolly<ref>{{cite web |title=1895 - Sporting Notes: Football |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/265501416 |publisher=The Tarrangower Times and Maldon Advertiser (Vic. : 1894 - 1911) |access-date=18 September 2025 |page=2 |date=16 October 1895}}</ref> **1896 - 1897: Unknown competition **1898 - 1902: Club active, but no formal competition **1903 - ? Football Association. Premiers<ref>{{cite web |title=1903 - COUNTRY FOOTBALL |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189348829 |publisher=The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) |access-date=19 September 2025 |page=9 |date=24 September 1903}}</ref> **1904 - Loddon Valley FA **1907 - 1913: [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League|Maryborough District Football League]] **1914 - Dunolly Football Association<ref>{{cite web |title=1914 - Football |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241771833 |publisher=The Evening Echo (Ballarat, Vic. : 1914 - 1918) |access-date=20 September 2025 |page=4 |date=2 September 1914}}</ref> **1915 - [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League|Maryborough District Football League]]<ref>{{cite web |title=1915 - Football |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/152148792 |publisher=Bealiba Times (Vic. : 1915 - 1918) |access-date=20 September 2025 |page=2 |date=16 July 1915}}</ref> **1916 - 1918: DFC in recess, due to [[World War One]]. **1919 - 1935: [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League|Maryborough District Football League]] **1936 - 1939: [[Loddon Valley Football League]] **1940 - [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League|Maryborough District Football League]] **1941 - 1944: Club in recess due to [[World War Two]] **1945 - 1981: [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League|Maryborough District Football League]] **1982 - 2000: [[Lexton Plains Football League]] **2001 - 2003: [[Loddon Valley Football League]] **2004 - 2025: [[Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League|Maryborough District Football League]]

*VFL / AFL Players **1909 - [[Stan Martin]] - {{AFL Uni}} **1910 - [[Harry Gathercole]] - {{AFL StK}} **1925 - [[Ned Kick]] - {{AFL Car}} **1951 - [[Doug Beasy]] - {{AFL Car}}

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Dunnoly New Birthday Mine.jpg|Dunnoly New Birthday Mine, Goldsborough, Lode at the 500 ft level File:Dunolly Court House.JPG| Dunolly Court House File:Dunolly post office.jpg|The central Post Office </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Dunolly}} {{Wikivoyage|Dunolly}} * [http://www.dunolly.com.au/ Dunolly, Victoria] Official website * [http://dunollyhistoricprecinct.com.au/ Dunolly Historic Precinct]

[[Category:Mining towns in Victoria (state)]] [[Category:Towns in Victoria (state)]]