Steiglitz Historic Park
Within the Brisbane Ranges National Park is the Steiglitz Historic Park.
Steiglitz is almost a ghost town today, but in the 1860's and 1890's it was a busy goldmining township with hotels, shops, churches and a population of over 1000. At the height of the 1860's gold rush, Steiglitz township had more than 1500 residents, four hotels, a newspaper, a variety of shops and even an undertaker. Now most of the town and its surroundings are included in the 469 hectare Steiglitz Historic Park, declared in 1979.
Steiglitz Court House has images of Steiglitz in its boom years - old photographs, maps and relics of the gold years. The book Steiglitz - Memories of Gold, an illustrated history, can be purchased here. However, the Court House is currently closed to the public. For further information, please contact the Parks Victoria office at Bacchus Marsh via the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963.
Steiglitz Court House came under National Parks Service management in 1977 and Steiglitz Historic Park, taking in Crown land in and around the township, was proclaimed in 1979. The National Parks Service is now Parks Victoria.
Since the 1970s the Victorian Government has been playing an increasing part in the preservation of historic areas on public (Crown) land. This is in addition to its more familiar role of preserving and protecting the natural environment in national parks.
The cemetery on the Maude-Steiglitz Road is worth a visit if you're interested in history. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, possums and a wide variety of birds including Wedge-tailed Eagles and Crimson Rosellas can be seen around the Park. Plant species found around Steiglitz Historic Park include Brown Stringybarks (Eucalyptus baxteri), Grass-trees (Xanthorrhoea australis), Brisbane Ranges Grevillea (Grevillea steiglitziana) and Common Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis).
The Back to Steiglitz Association is the local volunteer group with an aim of repairing and maintaining the town’s historic buildings. They hold a Back to Steiglitz Festival every two years to support these projects.