The beautiful Central Highlands in the Australian state of Victoria give rise to many rivers, winding from the Pyrenees Ranges through verdant valleys to the swamps of the Murray. One such is the Avoca River, with its valley home to the former gold rush town of Avoca, now a tiny village of under 1,000 people. The region’s temperate climate and natural beauty proved popular with settlers in the early 19th century, with sheep runs and ranches established well before gold was discovered in 1851. Between 1859 and 1870, over £2,500,000-worth of gold was sent from Avoca to Melbourne - a huge fortune in those days. Wine and tourism to this lovely region are now the village’s economic mainstay and it’s established as the gateway to the Pyrenees Ranges Wine Region. It draws many visitors with its good choice of accommodation, varying from motels, cottages, holiday homestays, bed and breakfasts and Avoca hotels in the centre of the village.

other spellings: avocahotels, avoac otel, avcoa hotell, aovca hote, vaoca hotes