Howlong History

Howlong's colonial story commenced in 1836 with Major Mitchell's camp during his 'Australia Felix' expedition.

This site soon became pivotal. In 1838, Howlong was the starting point for Joseph Hawdon's groundbreaking first Overland Cattle Drive to Adelaide and the first overland mail delivery from Melbourne to Sydney.

Rooted in the Aboriginal word 'Oolong', meaning a Brolga gathering place, these iconic birds still inhabit the Howlong district.

Uncover the history of this classic Australian country town by following the 13.3km Howlong History Trail, featuring 28 significant locations.

Explore the trail on foot in around three hours, taking advantage of the clustered central locations, or opt for a one-hour driving tour to see all the sites.

With historic buildings scattered throughout the town, Howlong’s History Trail is the perfect way to explore this quintessential, open-hearted Australian country town. The easy-to-navigate trail totals 13.3kms and covers 28 significant locations in the area.

The Flour Mill, Residence and Mill Hotel are one of the major historic attractions you will find along the trail. The mill was operated by a 26-horsepower engine that ran six millstones and commenced production in 1867. The flour won a gold medal at the Philadelphia World Fair in 1876.

The mill featured an exhaust fan that sucked refuse instead of blowing it over the countryside, proof positive that Howlong was in the conservation and environmental business in 1867.

The trail will take about three hours on foot, although many of the points of interest are located near each other in the centre of the town. The tour takes approximately 3 hours by foot or one hour by car.

Download the Howlong History Trail Map and Guide