Discover Lexton: History and Gardens

Lexton is a destination that can be understood through a touring route and tangible traces of its local history. The Pyrenees & Grampians Touring Route passes through Waubra, Lexton and Avoca, and describes Lexton as one of Victoria's earliest inland settlements. The town is also located on the Sunraysia Highway between Ballarat and Avoca. These details give you different points of reference when adding Lexton to your travel plans.

Route and walking tour

The Pyrenees & Grampians Touring Route recommends picking up a Historic Town Walk brochure at the Community Centre in Lexton and exploring the town. As the brochure's availability may change, check in advance whether it is available there. The brochure gives your visit a specific starting point; the touring route also places Lexton on a drive that passes through Waubra and Avoca. This lets you take both road directions and your interest in Lexton itself into account when planning.

History in buildings and dates

Lexton is home to Mount Mitchell Homestead. The historic homestead was established in 1838. The site of the Pyrenees Hotel in Lexton was the location of the Burnbank Inn & Store, which operated from 1845 to around 1859. Lexton Court House was built in 1874 and is associated with the Walking Tour of Lexton. St Mary's Anglican Church also dates from 1874. St Joseph's Catholic Church was built in 1894, and the Major Mitchell Memorial Plaque was unveiled in 1930. This sequence of dates takes you from the early homestead and former Inn & Store through the Court House and churches to the memorial plaque. If you're interested in local history, these milestones offer different points of connection rather than limiting Lexton to a single era.

Landscape and gardens

Red river gums along the creeks define Lexton; gently rolling hills covered with eucalypts surround the town. Mount Mitchell has more than 10 acres of manicured gardens, including formal rose gardens, impressive vegetable gardens, parkland and an extensive orchard. The views are also described in specific terms: a lake on Mount Mitchell offers a view to the west, while the Pyrenees rise in the background. Two distinct themes sit side by side here: the landscaped gardens on Mount Mitchell and the landscape around Lexton, shaped by creeks, eucalypts and gently rolling hills. You can explore the character of the area through both its individual garden spaces and the surrounding landscape.

Find a hotel to suit your travel interests

When planning a stay in Lexton, you can start by considering what will shape your trip: the Pyrenees & Grampians Touring Route, the historic sites and their different dates, or the gardens and landscape. These themes can help you assess Lexton as a destination that suits your interests. Search for hotels in Lexton for your stay, and make your choice based on your own travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Moorabool, Berriwillock, Rheola, Elmore, Granite Rock, Pakenham, Murray-Sunset, Sherbrooke.

Return to the regional travel overview: Victoria.