Blackwood

The drive into Blackwood is overwhelmingly beautiful. The Wombat State Forest, with its tall timbers, lush greenery and flourishing commercial nurseries, is a pristine backdrop to the historic mountain top village.

Blackwood historic mountaintop village is located only 30-minutes from Bacchus Marsh. Visitors will delight in the drive to Blackwood with stunning views of the Wombat State Forest, historic buildings, native flora and fauna and seasonal wildflowers.

Known for its historic cottages and buildings, mineral springs and goldmining past, the town was first settled in the mid-1850s with 13,000 prospectors including more than 1000 Chinese miners calling Blackwood home.

The Blackwood Cemetery is an interesting visit, paying tribute to the many personalities who helped shape the town. The Cemetery has a Chinese section with more than 40 names registered and 9 headstones still remaining. Visitors struggling with mobile phone reception may wish to head to the cemetery as it is said to have the best reception in town.

Blackwood itself is quaint, green, and inviting, with fine food on offer at the Cobb & Co Tea Rooms, the Blackwood Merchant, Blackwood Hotel and Garden of St Erth. The Garden of St Erth is home to an historic sandstone homestead, café, gift shop and nursery as well as beautiful, fragrant gardens. This is perfectly complemented by two other local nurseries, Blackwood Ridge and Karkoo Nursery.

Blackwood is a haven for bushwalkers with spectacular walks from Blackwood through the Lerderderg State Park, which features old gold mines, the Mineral Springs Reserve, swimming at Grahams Dam, Fosters Lookout and, of course, The Gorge.