The Diggers Rest Hotel, a goldrush-era wayside inn on the Calder Highway just north-west of Melbourne, was destroyed by fire in October 2008, leaving only a fenced-off ruin. But that is not the end of the story. A 2022 planning report submitted to the City of Melton proposes restoring the burnt-out structure and “breathing new life into a heritage landmark” (Melton Council Planning Report PA2022-7911). […]
Last checked: 2026-09-15
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Name: Diggers Rest Hotel · Location: 1434–1466 Calder Highway, Diggers Rest, Victoria, Australia (32 km NW of Melbourne CBD) · Year built: Early 1850s · Current operation: Not open; historic site under heritage restoration project
[…]- The two-storey building at 1434–1466 Calder Highway, Diggers Rest, was constructed in 1854, making it over 170 years old (Wikipedia; Victorian Places).
- Destroyed by fire on 30 October 2008; burnt-out remains are fenced off. A 2022 planning report outlines restoration plans with heritage façade retention (City of Melton Heritage Overlay HO043).
A 2022 planning report (PA2022-7911) submitted to Melton Council proposes “breathing new life into a heritage landmark” by reconstructing the hotel while preserving its heritage façade. […] Melton Council Planning Report). […]
Mount Alexander Road, the original track from Melbourne to the northern goldfields, corresponds to the modern Calder Highway (City of Melton – Gold thematic heritage). […] City of Melton).
[…]The hotel site sits at 1434–1466 Calder Highway (Old Calder Highway) in the rural town of Diggers Rest, Victoria, approximately 32 km north‑west of Melbourne’s central business district (City of Melton Heritage Overlay HO043).
[…]The Calder Highway at this point is the modern successor to the Mount Alexander Road goldfields route (City of Melton – Gold thematic heritage). […]
The Diggers Rest Hotel is at 1434–1466 Calder Highway, Diggers Rest, Victoria. From Melbourne’s CBD, take the Calder Freeway (M79) north-west, exit at Diggers Rest, and follow Old Calder Highway for about 1.5 km. The site is on the left, marked by a fenced-off ruin. […]
Map embed: 1434–1466 Calder Highway, Diggers Rest VIC 3420, Australia
[…]The hotel is closed, destroyed by fire in October 2008. The burnt‑out remains are fenced off. A 2022 planning report proposes restoration, but no construction has begun as of 2025.
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melton.vic.gov.au, melton.vic.gov.au, en.wikipedia.org, melton.vic.gov.au, geocaching.com