Bendigo -gold was discovered here back in the 1850's and along with Ballarat started the Australian gold rush. Becoming rich these buildings show wealth, gold is still found in the surrounding areas with a few mines still operating, but mainly found with gold detector when fossiking
There are a lot of other towns in the vicinity where gold was found most have the old buildings stil standing and have become touristy-others have disapeared but ruins of what once can still be seen