Historical Walking Tour of Clunes — Self-Guided App
A self-guided historical walking tour of Clunes, taking in St Paul's Anglican Church, St Thomas Aquinas' Church and Town Hall and Court House across 6 stops.
Open this tour in the app →The route
1St Paul's Anglican Church, Clunes
Built of bluestone with cement dressings in 1870-71, this Decorated Gothic church is the only identifiable Australian work of architect Thomas Austin, of Austin and Johnson. The adjoining timber hall, the original 1859-60 church, is a rare Victorian survivor for its board-and-batten external skin.
2St Thomas Aquinas' Church, Clunes
Begun in 1872 from bluestone and opened on 9 March 1873, this Gothic Revival Catholic church was designed by architects Henry Richards Caselli and W. B. Tappin, influenced by St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat. It served Clunes' gold-era Catholic community before closing in 2018 and becoming a private residence.
3Clunes Town Hall and Court House
Built in 1872-3 to a symmetrical Victorian Free Classical design by architect Percy Oakden, this civic complex combined borough offices and a police court flanking a two-storey central hall. Funded partly by a £2100 government grant, it reflects the wealth and pride of Clunes at its gold-town peak.
4Club Hotel
Built in 1870 by owner-occupier Griffin Wiles, the Club Hotel stands on Fraser Street in the commercial heart of the former gold-mining town of Clunes. One of several hotels raised here in the late 1860s and 1870s, its Conservative Classical detailing and cast-iron verandah earn it a place on the Victorian Heritage Register (H0341).
5ES&A Bank building, Clunes
Built in 1871 for the English, Scottish and Australian Bank, this Fraser Street landmark served as a bank branch until the 1930s. The Returned and Services League has owned it since 1954, and it is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (H0340).
6Clunes Post Office
Built in 1879 to a Public Works Department design, this two-storey rendered-brick post and telegraph office replaced an 1861 predecessor as Clunes boomed on deep-lead gold. Its Italian Renaissance palazzo styling, arcaded loggia and slate roof mark the goldfields' prosperity; it is now heritage-listed.
Map
Practical info
While you’re in Victoria
FAQ
How long is the Clunes walking tour?
About 52 minutes over roughly 1.3 km at a relaxed pace.
Can I do the tour offline?
Yes — load the tour in the Sitesy app beforehand and it’s cached for offline use.
Is the Clunes walking tour accessible?
The route mainly follows town-centre footpaths; check the app for any steps or uneven ground near individual stops.