CRESWICKis enjoying perhaps an unprecedented level of popularity as a tourism destination.
It’s not just a stop-off point on the way from Ballarat to Daylesford, but a premiumlocale of its own. With its markets, gourmet pubs, a sublime French patisserie, funky cafes and shops, suddenly Creswick’s full potential is starting to blossom.
Hepburn Shire Council hasdone a great job in wanting to get more out of the township’s historical connections with the famed Lindsay artistic family.
In bringing to life the brainchild oflocal residentMargaret Giles –the Creswick of the Lindsays Art Trail –the council has given physical reminders of the family’s beautiful art and contributions across the entire township.
However, those stunning markers and placards only make sense if they’ve got somewhere to point to.
Percy Lindsay’s TheGirl in the Red Dress from 1890is a gorgeous piece of Creswick’s history. Here we see the talents of the oldest Lindsay child, and the magical childhood memories of his little sister Pearl.
The Albert Street sign says Percy’s paintings of Creswick were among the best things he ever did.
The sign then invites visitors to “wander down the rural lane way that loops behind the main street” and “you may see the exact view depicted in the painting”.
Except of course, they won’t.
Tait’s Spring on South Street was capped, piped and drained by a former council.
During drought conditions, without that spring, the poplar tree that Pearl stood in front of is now a mere bunch of dead twigs.
The spring itself is capped with a cement drain cover –hardly thepicturesque, bucolic dream that Percy had obviously so enjoyed.
A rather dreary mustard-stream is piped underneath the earth and spat out elsewhere.
So it’s great to hear this current council is interested in investigating the water source, finding out if it’s a “true” spring or a leftover from Creswick’s mining history.
If it is, the council may just spend thousands upgrading the area, helping to return the idyllic rural scenes of the past that the Lindsays have made famous in their paintings.
Of course, this is just one site across Hepburn Shire. There may be many more untapped sources of history, art and beauty in the shire just waiting to be uncovered and brought back to their full glory.
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