Originally known as Black Dog Creek the township of Chiltern was first surveyed in 1853 but not settled until the gold rush of 1853. The Post Office opened on 1 September 1859 and today a large number of Chiltern’s buildings have been classified by the National Trust.

Chiltern is a town with a strong community ethic and is popular for its proximity to regional centres and historic buildings dating back to the gold rush days. It features preserved streetscapes and many historic brick buildings and timber verandahs. The miners’ cottages, Athenaeum Museum and Dow’s Pharmacy are largely unchanged from the gold rush days and it’s not hard to imagine the early pioneers wandering the streets and shops.

Visitors to Chiltern will experience the nostalgia of the past with all the benefits of good old country charm.

The town is evolving with an historic museum, numerous bric-a-brac shops and places to eat. The picturesque park on Lake Anderson is only a short walk from the centre of town and there are nearby bush walking tracks and bird watching spots in the surrounding Box-Ironbark National Park.

Key Information:

Distances

Population: 1641 (2011)