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Daylesford Victoria
Vincent Street in Daylesford
Population:	3,396 (2001 census)
Established:	1852
Postcode:	3460
Elevation:	616 m
Location:	113 km from Melbourne 46 km from Ballarat 3 km from Hepburn Springs
LGA:	Hepburn Shire
Federal Division:	Ballarat
Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Rainfall  ? ? 870 mm 34.3 in

Daylesford is a rural town, located in Hepburn Shire, Victoria, Australia. It is a former goldmining town about 115 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, in the foothills of Great Dividing Range. At the 2001 census, Daylesford had a population of 3,396.^[1]

The broader area around the town, including Hepburn Springs to the north, is renowned for its natural spring spas. This together with its proximity to Melbourne make it a popular destination for tourists.

Contents 1 History 2 Features 3 Climate 4 External links 5 References

Originally founded in 1852 with the finding of alluvial gold in areas now occupied by Lake Daylesford. The town was initially called Wombat but was later renamed by Sir Charles Hotham after the English birthplace of Warren Hastings, the first governor-general of India.

Market gardening was developed by Chinese immigrants who worked on the goldfields shortly after the town was founded, and a local flour mill was opened in the 1860s but closed down because the climate is too wet for effective grain production. Vegetable growing is still a significant industry, as the region has a good climate for the production of such vegetables as potatoes and is near enough to the large Melbourne market to provide a low-cost supply.

Due to it being located in mountains, formed by volcanic activity about five million years ago, the region contains as much as 80% of all the hot springs in Victoria. Not long after settlement Daylesford had been noted for these mineral springs and from the 1880s to the 1920s the town was a major spa resort after the railway from Carlsruhe reached the town in 1880.

The spa resorts declined in the 1930s, but were redeveloped in the 1970s. Since then, Daylesford and all of eastern Hepburn Shire has become a major alternative lifestyle centre, with such services as massages, reiki, shiatsu, acupuncture, aromatherapy, reflexology, spiritual healing, and tarot being found.

The town is noted for its thriving food and wine industry with award winning restaurants. Daylesford is also known for being a gay-friendly destination. The town boasts one of the highest percentage of gay and lesbian residents in regional Australia; many of the local businesses are gay- or lesbian-owned.^{[citation needed]}

A festival is held during the Labour Day long weekend in March. Other festivals include the Daylesford Highland Gathering and The Swiss Italian Festa.

There is also a tourist railway (the Daylesford Spa Country Railway), which has one of the largest collections of railmotors in Australia.

At 616 metres above sea level, it has a cooler, wetter climate than Melbourne. Summer (January-February) temperatures range from 10°C (50°F) to 26°C (79°F), while July temperatures are cold, ranging from about 1-2°C (34-36°F) to 9°C (48°F). Annual precipitation, occasionally falling as snow, averages about 870 millimetres (34 inches) but has ranged from 445 millimetres (18 inches) to over 1350 millimetres (53 inches).

• Daylesford and Macedon Ranges Tourism Guide Victoria Australia Tourism information for Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges tourism region including accommodation, attractions, activities, restaurants, cellar doors, events diary and more.
• Daylesford - Visit Victoria tourism website

Coordinates: 37°20′S 144°08′E