The town itself was once a thriving metropolis. Maldon's reputation as a picturesque historic town, known for its intact 19th century commercial center is well established. One of the most important late 19th and early 20th century townscapes in Victoria, Maldon began as a gold rush town in 1854 with the discovery of alluvial gold at the base of Mt Tarrangower. It developed as an industrial mining town during the later years of the 1800s. As one of Victoria's richest quartz mining centers, various mines at various times recorded the highest returns in the State. Mining declined in the first years of the 20th century, the last mine of the era closed in 1926, and the town's population and fortunes similarly declined....