Kilmore is a picturesque country town surrounded by rolling farmland. Founded in 1837, it’s one of the oldest inland towns in Victoria and is brimming with historic charm. Admire heritage architecture, discover the town’s Gold Rush roots and explore wildlife-rich nature reserves in the Great Dividing Range.
Things to do in Kilmore
Sydney Street is Kilmore’s main thoroughfare and is lined with beautifully restored heritage buildings. Most have been repurposed as antique stores, craft shops, cafes and restaurants. You’ll be impressed by landmark buildings like the post office, police barracks and former town hall fronted by soaring Corinthian pillars.
Kilmore Creek flows past the town and is flanked by parks and bushland. Stretch your legs on scenic creekside tracks and enjoy a picnic in the shade. The Kilmore Creek Heritage Art Walk is dotted with informative panels and artist-designed sculptures that celebrate the town’s indigenous history.
Whitburgh Cottage was built from locally quarried bluestone in the 1850s and has been reimagined as a local history museum. Inside, you can view antiques and colonial clothing. Tours of the Old Kilmore Gaol take you behind the scenes of the colonial prison, which was later converted into a butter factory. The Tramway Heritage Centre in the neighbouring town of Bylands showcases historic trams that once ran along the streets of Melbourne.
Monument Hill Reserve is just east of the town centre and protects a unique landscape of eucalypt forests and wattle bushland. Hike up to the bluestone lookout tower for sweeping views over Kilmore and the Victorian countryside. On the challenging hike up Mount Disappointment, there’s a chance to spot wallabies, wombats and other Australian wildlife.
Getting around Kilmore
Kilmore is located in the Victorian countryside, a one-hour drive from Melbourne. The town is compact and easy to get around on foot. Trains run between Melbourne and Kilmore in around 1.5 hours. Melbourne Airport is a 45-minute drive away.