Local Attractions
Among the Western District's many natural attractions are ancient volcanoes, waterfalls, caves, National and Heritage listed State Parks. Follow the volcanic trail and discover the beauty and mystery of Lake Surprise at Mt Eccles Nation Park.
Hamilton Art Gallery
Hamilton Art Gallery is famous for its outstanding collections of fine and decorative arts including the fabulous Shaw Bequest. Silver, glass and porcelain, oriental ceramic, furniture, paintings and prints, including Australian art, are featured in six modern galleries.
Hamilton Botanical Gardens
The site for the gardens was set aside in 1853 and first planted out in 1870, making the gardens amongst the earliest provincial botanic gardens set aside in Australia.From 1881 the Council at the time employed William Guilfoyle, curator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, to draw up plans and design the layout of the gardens.
Ansett Museum
The Sir Reginald Ansett Transport Museum is based on the Ansett Company's first aircraft hangar. The Centrepiece of the display is a Fokker Universal aircraft, similar to the one used on the first Ansett flight in 1936.
Hamilton Historical Society
The Hamilton History centre is a volunteer based research facility dedicated to the collection , preservation and cataloguing of historical records of Hamilton and the surrounding region which are made available for research purposes.
Campe's Motor Museum
Selection of cars, buses and memorabilia including 1929 Stutz, 1955 Ansett Clipper Bus & 1933 Citreon. A must see for motor enthusiasts, located next door to the Big Wool Bales.
Hamilton Pastoral Museum
Two complexes of collections showing the development of farming & household technology. Historical buildings at the museum include St Luke's Church, Cottage, National Bank, Drik Drik Post Office, Byaduk Automatic Exchange, Blacksmith, Myaring Woolshed, Warrayure School rotunda, Coleraine Lock-up and Old Penshurst Police Station.
Nigretta and Wannon Falls
Just 20km west of Hamilton, lie two exceptional waterfalls, Nigretta and Wannon Falls. Notable native flora & fauna. Easily accessible, metres from car park. Picnic & BBQ facilities provided at Reserve.
Volcanoes Discovery Centre
At the Volcanoes Discovery Centre you will find how volcanoes are formed, their geology, their history in the Western District, a video simulation of Mount Rouse erupting.
Lava Tumuli or Blisters
West of Byaduk Caves, near the limits of the Harman's Valley flow are a number of unusual clusters known as Lava Tumuli or ‘Blisters'. Lava Tumuli are clusters of unusual circular mounds or hammocks of rocks, up to 10 meters high and 20 meters in diameter, caused by the lava flow.
Byaduk Caves
The Byaduk Caves in Mount Napier State Park are a very extensive and accessible set of lava caves. Being so young they are largely unweathered and still maintain their natural state.
