The discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851 had a profound effect on the environmental, economic and social histories in Victoria. It attracted migrants of different nationalities, and the gold fields played a significant role in the development of the State. The city of Bendigo is well known because of its strategic location in the gold fields. It is the regional headquarters of the North Central region of Victoria, and while the changes to Bendigo are well documented, the gold rush and subsequent land use also had significant effects on the environment. While gold is still an important industry in the region, there is now a much wider range of land uses, ranging from mining, agriculture, forestry, conservation to recreation. The question is how these different land uses, along with the mining of the nineteenth Century, affect the long term sustainability of the North Central region.
The Royal Society of Victoria is holding this regional symposium to recognise the environmental history and the scientific significance of the North Central region. The conference will concentrate on the management and sustainability of the region and also examine priorities and options for future management. The future of the North Central region is not only important to people who live within the region, its close proximity to Melbourne means that its future is relevant to a large proportion of Victorians.
The papers for this Symposium are expected to be published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria.
The themes of the symposium include the: flora; fauna; geology; water use and resources; climate and climate change; land use; and the indigenous culture of the North Central Region.
This Symposium is supported by grants and assistance by:
