About Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest is a small town approximately 30km north west of Melbourne. The town was formed in the mid 1800’s and grew with diggers travelling to Bendigo and the newly discovered gold fields, Diggers Rest was a full days ride on horseback from Melbourne, hence the name Diggers Rest.

Caroline Chisholm set up one of 10 Shelter Sheds at Diggers Rest at the time on route to the gold fields, these were to help and house single women and struggling families in extremely harsh times.

One of Diggers Rests’ biggest claim to fame was at 7am on the 31st March 1910, when the famous escapologist and adventurer Harry Houdini flew his Voisin biplane, to achieve Australia’s first powered aeroplane flight. In the presence of 30 witnesses he flew his bi-plane at a height of 90 to 100 ft, travelling a 6 mile round trip. The flight itself took 7 min. 37 sec.

Today Diggers Rest has a population of approximately 2400 people, our community has a range of groups and clubs including the CFA, Bowling Club, Cricket Club, Football Club, Tennis Club, Scouts, Diggers Rest Directions Group and Residents Association and of course the Lions Club of Diggers Rest. The town has just one Primary School with an attendance of about 150 students, as well as one kindergarten.