Placement site information
Rushworth
Rushworth is an old gold mining town which retains much of its original character through its many early buildings. It is located 166 km north of Melbourne via Murchison and 145 m above sea-level. Today there are about 1000 residents.
Rushworth became a stopping place in the early 1850s for those travelling between the Bendigo and Beechworth diggings. Gold was discovered near the future town site in August 1853 when some diggers, camping overnight, were shown some 'pretty' stones by local Aborigines who then led them to their point of origin. The first settlement was established 1.5 km east of present-day Rushworth. It was known as 'Nuggetty', owing to the numerous large nuggets found. There were soon hundreds of tents and slab huts, stores, wine shanties, dams, puddling machines and crushing machines.
Alluvial gold was then found in plentiful supply right throughout the area and underground shafts were sunk to a depth of 270 metres, locating gold reefs 2.5 metres thick. 26 mines were operating at its peak and there were allegedly 40 000 people living in the district.
Poet Richard Horne, a friend of Charles Dickens, was made one of the two gold commissioners overseeing the rush and he gave the town its name. One theory is that he took the English idea of ending a town's name with '-worth' and jokingly coined the term 'Rushworth' (i.e., a worth-while rush) or that he named it after two fellow passengers from the ship that brought him to Australia. Horne and fellow-commissioner Willoughby successfully quelled potential riots over the expensive miner's licence.
The area which is now High St (the main road) began developing in 1853. A survey of the site was conducted in 1854 and by 1858 there was a police camp, a wooden courthouse, five hotels, two breweries, a school, seven large stores, 20 tradesmen's shops and two banks; all at the southern end of High St.
The first local newspaper, the Waranga Echo, started in 1868 although the mining began to wind down in the 1870s. However, the town continued to prosper as timbergetting became a major local industry with at least seven sawmills operating at one stage. Now only Risstroms Sawmill remains.
The town declined during the Great Depression but has survived. Mixed farming is now carried on under irrigation.
21 km west of town is the locality of Colbinabbin where novelist Joseph Furphy had a selection from 1868 to 1873, although he later described it as 'the worst selection in Rodney Shire' and soon headed off to the Riverina area of NSW.
Students are encouraged to submit photos that they have taken during their town visits for posting at this site. The photos should be of buildings of interest and the natural environment. Photos may include the student, but not others without their permission. Please email photos to Scott Middleton smid@unimelb.edu.au with a brief note on the town name.
Other links:
‘Rushworth – Health Information’
http://www.about-australia.com/victoria/goldfields/destinations/rushworth/
Past student Completed and suggested Project ideas
Socio-economic Status
Access to Allied Health
Opportunity to practice venapunctures at Tatura Hospital
We had fun going to local newspaper office, CFA and local school. These non-medical placements were good – gave us an opportunity to see the community.
Get onto Cass Alexander for a trip to the Observatory.
Go out and explore the surrounding towns
The great care from GPs and nursing staff
Barriers to health care in rural settings
How staff manages on sometimes inadequate services
Past student comments/suggestions
Extremely friendly staff, lovely townsfolk – had a very good experience
Highly recommend more students coming here in the future.
Our preceptor was great!
Well organised, busy and great accommodation
Fire Brigade visit was fantastic, as was the Doctor’s visit in Nagambie.
Most friendly staff and a welcoming community.
Wide range of experiences especially with allied health
Lovely locals, very enthusiastic
CFA and Observatory experiences a ‘must do!
GP placements were useful, especially Murchison.
Activities like District Nursing, CFA, Waranga News, P-12 School were fun and gave us a better perspective of the community.
Everyone at Waranga Memorial Hospital was very helpful and friendly. I really enjoyed my stay there. The accommodation was clean and comfortable
A vast amount of different experiences from medical/clinical based to volunteer firefighting and newspaper editing! Fantastic!
Pharmacy, DFA, Ambulance Victoria and P-12 School. Placements were very useful. The supervisor was extremely helpful. All staff in the hospital was friendly and helpful.
Extremely supportive and friendly staff and community. Well organised.
Good support network. Placements include wide variety and interesting. Staff very keen and generous with their time