Burnbank: Lexton’s gold history and local experiences

Understanding Burnbank and Lexton

Near Burnbank, Lexton is located on the Sunraysia Highway between Ballarat and Avoca. Mt Mitchell Homestead, Lexton Pottery and The Hub Pub are located in Lexton. If you’re looking for a hotel in Burnbank, keep these locations distinct: the garden tours, pottery classes and pub-style meals mentioned here are in Lexton.

Lexton’s history and a name with two meanings

Lexton was formerly known as Burnbank. A notice in the Victorian Government Gazette dated 4 February 1852 announced that the name of the then township would be changed from Burnbank to Lexton. When Burnbank is mentioned in the gold rush story below, the name refers to this former name for the township associated with Lexton, not the present-day travel destination of Burnbank.

In the historical area around Lexton, David Anderson and William Millar established a village in the winter of 1845 at the junction of the western and northern stock routes. Major Mitchell’s road from Portland to Sydney also crossed at this junction, as did the route taken by stockmen travelling from Geelong and Buninyong through the then township of Burnbank towards the Wimmera. The town’s history is thus closely linked to the routes through the region at the time.

In July 1851, following news of a gold discovery, the then township of Burnbank became a scene of great activity and excitement. Carpenters and blacksmiths in Burnbank made many of the first picks and cradles used on the goldfields. The wagons of Thomas Clapperton’s Pyrenees Store Co. in Burnbank were the first supply wagons on the goldfields. These details tell a story not only of gold prospecting, but also of toolmaking and supplies.

James Esmond also features in this story. He worked at Woodstock Station and drove a stagecoach from Buninyong through the then township of Burnbank, across the Pyrenees and into the Wimmera, before travelling to California to search for gold. In another episode, Esmond and his companions Pugh, Burns and Kelly set out from Burnbank along Major’s Line to Cameron’s Run in July 1851, where they found gold. Esmond’s story thus includes both a stagecoach journey and a gold prospecting expedition with companions.

Gardens, pottery and pub-style meals in Lexton

Mt Mitchell Homestead is located in Lexton. The official 2025 visitor guide lists tours of the formal gardens across ten acres; confirm the arrangements before your trip. For Lexton Pottery, the visitor guide lists weekend pottery classes. Class times may change, so it’s a good idea to check the schedule before making plans. The offerings differ: the tours focus on the gardens, while the classes focus on pottery.

The Hub Pub Lexton serves home-style pub food. Service details may change. Together with the gardens and classes, this offers a range of different activities and dining options located in Lexton.

Activities in the Pyrenees region

There are more options to consider in the wider travel area of the Pyrenees region. The official 2025 visitor guide lists four-wheel driving, trail biking, mountain biking and horse riding in the State Forests, with numerous roads available for these activities. Track conditions may change, so check them before setting out. There is also an extensive network of walking and gravel cycling trails in the State Parks and State Forests; individual routes may change. The options differ by mode of travel: roads for the driving and horse-riding activities described, and a network of trails for walking and gravel cycling.

Discover more destinations: Werribee South, Dixons Creek, Gipsy Point, Mongans Bridge, Noojee, Goughs Bay, Pyalong, Winton North

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.