Barry Gamble described the landscape of the central Victorian goldfields as the best-surviving example from the 19th-century gold rush in a document he authored as to why the site should be given the heritage listing.
Mr Gamble called the goldfields “the most extensive, coherent and best-surviving landscape anywhere, that illustrates the global gold rush phenomenon of the second half of the 19th century”.
The campaign has also garnered support from former Victorian premiers John Brumby and Denis Napthine, who have been named as co-patrons for the heritage listing bid.
The pair joined Mr Gamble and the central Victorian councils on September 10 to discuss a pathway for a successful bid.
Mr Brumby said he was delighted to formally join the bid as co-patron and excited by the momentum it was gaining.
“Victorian leaders have known since the 1980s that this bid has merit. The region’s heritage is unquestionably amongst the best in the world and tells an important and wonderful story about the world and its social and economic development,” he said.
“We also know that world heritage listing, as well as the journey to achieve it, can achieve strong regional and community development, supporting tourism COVID-19 recovery and jobs — a second gold rush for the region, which couldn’t come at a more needed time.”
Dr Napthine said he was also pleased to support the bid and encouraged communities to remain engaged in the process.
“The recent and successful bid to list the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in South West Victoria on the World Heritage List was a long process, but it has put the region on the map,” he said.
“Like Budj Bim, the bid to list the Central Victorian Goldfields is a terrific way for the whole community to benefit in so many ways, including driving the regional economy through added tourism.”
The bid also received an additional $50,000 from Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive, making a total of $100,000 from the organisation, and $50,000 that has been received from the Victorian Government.
The additional funds will be used to develop publicity material that will promote the World Heritage value of the region, including a website, social media campaigns and branding and a series of exciting stories of the goldfields to drive added visitor interest and engagement.
Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive chair Chris Meddows-Taylor said it was important to build on the stamp of approval the bid had received to date.
“The added injection of $50,000 to promote the region will not only support the bid but create early and tangible benefits for industry in the COVID-19 recovery environment,” Mr Meddows-Taylor said.
Campaspe Shire Council Mayor Adrian Weston, along with all local government partners, thanked Mr Brumby, Dr Napthine and the Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive for their strong commitment to the bid, and also Mr Gamble for his expertise and optimism in believing the bid could be a success.
“The campaign to recognise the Central Victorian Goldfields is just as important to us — with the township of Rushworth, Balaclava Mine and our Gold and Ironbark Trail in the south of our shire, all part of the same gold rush era. Attracting tourists to one area brings a flow-on effect to another,” Cr Weston said.
The Central Victorian Goldfields World Heritage bid Local Government partners are: Ararat Rural City, Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Bendigo, Golden Plains Shire, Hepburn Shire, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire, Moorabool Shire Council, Mount Alexander Shire, Northern Grampians Shire and Pyrenees Shire Councils.
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