Once a bustling gold rush town, Walhalla is now a quiet, sun-dappled place, nestled in the mountains, about two and a half hours east of Melbourne. But it's not all quiet and peaceful. The town is gearing up for a potential World Heritage Listing, which could bring a much-needed boost to its struggling infrastructure. This bid aims to recognize the state's historic gold mining towns and their global significance, and it could add 2.2 million visitors to the goldfields within 10 years of listing.
The town's history is a fascinating one. Established in the 1860s, Walhalla was once a thriving gold-rush town of several thousand people. The town's Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine produced almost 14,000 kilos of gold over its operation and was once the state's highest-producing gold mine. But the town's glory days are long gone, and now it's a place of quiet, with only 20 permanent residents.
The town's attractions are now operated and managed by volunteers, and many of the original buildings have been replaced with replicas. But the town's infrastructure is starting to show its age. Broken footpaths, a lack of reticulated sewerage, and a shortage of parking are just some of the issues that need to be addressed. And the town's gold-era sites are being overrun by vegetation, vandalism, and deer.
Despite these challenges, the town is hoping to capitalize on the World Heritage Listing bid. The bid could bring a threefold increase in visitors, which would be a welcome boost to the town's struggling economy. But the town's current infrastructure would not be able to handle those numbers, and there are concerns that the town's potential is being wasted.
The town's residents are divided on the bid. Some, like volunteer Victoria Whelan, are hopeful that it will bring more tourists to Walhalla and its railway. But others, like former Baw Baw Shire councillor Michael Leaney, are concerned that the town's infrastructure is not up to the task. Leaney believes that the bid could encourage much-needed investment in the town's systems, but he also warns that the town's potential is at risk if the infrastructure is not improved.
The town's heritage and development league president, Rob Ashworth, agrees that the town needs to be revitalized. He believes that the heritage bid will be 'transformational' for the town, but without government investment, the town risks becoming unappealing to visitors. Ashworth calls for proactive government action to help the town position itself as a truly class act international destination.
The Baw Baw Shire Council is aware of the need to improve Walhalla's infrastructure and is supporting the town through the heritage bid. The council has created two working groups, one focused on business and tourism, and the other on infrastructure, to identify opportunities and deliver services. This includes working with the state government to fix the town's footpaths, but there are no current plans to build a reticulated sewerage system.
The Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson says the government will work with councils and communities involved in the World Heritage Bid to plan for future tourism needs while protecting each town's heritage. But the town's residents are divided on the bid, and there are concerns that the town's potential is being wasted. The town's future hangs in the balance, and it remains to be seen whether the World Heritage Listing bid will bring the boost that Walhalla so desperately needs.
