Hepburn Springs
Hepburn Springs: Where Serenity Meets Wellness
Nestled in the heart of Australia's largest concentration of mineral springs, Hepburn Springs is a picturesque oasis that beckons you to rejuvenate, relax, and discover its rich Swiss-Italian heritage. It's a little piece of Locarno in the land Down Under, founded by Swiss-Italian immigrants and blessed with the healing properties of natural mineral springs. Here, amidst lush forests and serene gullies, you'll find the perfect escape.
Healing Waters
Discover the magic of the region's mineral springs at the iconic Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, a beautifully restored establishment dating back to 1895. Savor the different mineral formulations at old-fashioned pumps and pipes in the Hepburn Springs Mineral Springs Reserve. Let your mind and body experience the benefits of these health-giving minerals at local spa and wellness centers, where hydrotherapy, massage, and beauty therapy will transport you to a world of relaxation and rejuvenation. Extend your wellness retreat with visits to The Mineral Spa and the Shizuka Ryokan Japanese Country Spa.
The Sweet Life
Indulge in "La Dolce Vita" thanks to the Swiss Italian migrants who shaped Hepburn Springs during the gold rush of the 1850s. Sip on coffee at charming cafes, savour the season's finest at the Argus Dining Room, or enjoy a beer and bar snack at The Old Hepburn Hotel. Stroll through the elegant grounds of the Bellinzona boutique hotel and spend an afternoon at The Virgin Kitchen.
Local Rambles and Sporting Adventures
Embark on a journey through history with the Historic Village Walk, a delightful trail that leads you to the Old Macaroni Factory (1859), Villa Parma (1864), and beautifully restored Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco guesthouses, shops, hotels, and miners' cottages.
Explore the natural wonders of Hepburn Regional Park in spring, where colourful wildflowers and a myriad of animals and birds await. Wander along the 16-kilometer Tipperary Track and discover Sailors Falls, Mount Franklin Reserve, the Blowhole, and the Hepburn Pool.
For sports enthusiasts, tee off at the Hepburn Springs Golf Club's 18-hole course, where curious kangaroos might just join you for a round. Visit Cricket Willow, home to cricket bats and a treasure trove of sporting memorabilia.
Hepburn Springs, resting on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, is not just a destination; it's a vibrant community of artists, healers, gardeners, writers, and musicians. Here, amidst the healing waters and the legacy of Swiss Italian pioneers, you'll find a sanctuary where serenity meets vitality, and where the past intertwines with the present. Hepburn Springs invites you to immerse yourself in its enchanting ambiance, where restorative waters and cultural treasures await.
Hepburn Springs History:
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In 1830 Captain Hepburn was the person to discover the rejuvenating properties in the water of the springs. He named his first discovery the “Pavilion Spring”. It is now recognised as the Hepburn Mineral Spring Reserve, just a short walk from the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. He also founded the close by town Hepburn, which was evidently named after him.
Gold was discovered in Hepburn in the mid 1850's. The area became hugely popular for gold mining, the opportunity to become rich and the mineral contents of the springs’ water. Though the mining attracted a lot of people and made it a commercial hub, it also affected the flow of the springs. It was then that the locals united to ensure that the springs and their natural healing potential was protected. And so today, locals and visitors alike can enjoy the waters of Hepburn Springs.
Springs were effective and could cure almost anything – the news spread like wild fire in late 1800s and soon people from different parts of the country started visiting. The first Hepburn Bathhouse was actually built with 2 baths but almost immediately expanded and had 4 baths.
In the early 1900s, the Pavilion was built near the Hepburn Springs Bathhouse and was used as a swimming pool, when it was filled with mineral water in summer, where people could sit around and soak their feet or bath. In the time of Winter, the water was drained away, making it a large space for concerts, society meeting and dancing.
The well-known Pavilion house was neglected and abandoned for a long time. It has been reopened as a café which is now known as the Pavilion Café. Replacing window glasses was the only major repair that was done, just to make sure the whole setting looks like the old Pavilion House
The place so smells of history that anyone would love to hear the story of this café. It also has that ambience to make people imagine what the place would be like before a hundred years ago.
The most interesting fact is it has been 186 years since Captain Hepburn first discovered the healing power of the springs; they are still there, undamaged and offered access to everyone for a bath or to drink a bottle of water whenever they like.
From the original timer building in the late 188os to the now renovated one, Hepburn Bathhouse has come a long way. Since then the Hepburn Bathhouse has been refurbished in the 1920s, 1980s, 1990s and the most recent 'state of the art' renovation in 2008 that cost a million dollars. It is now called the 'Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa'.
Some of the best spas around:
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Hepburn Springs Spa
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The Mineral Spa
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Acqua Viva Day Spa
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Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel & Salus Spa
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Shizuka Ryokan Japanese Country Spa Retreat
Hepburn Springs Spa Special facilitates spa therapists and practitioners that are fully trained and experienced to offer various treatments that pamper, soothe, cleanse, scrub, balance and polish, using the blissful collection of aromatic treatments and authentic healing practices.
Call us today at Daylesford Wine Tours to book your next holiday and Hepburn Spring Spa Special!
