Stawell: Discover the Stawell Gift, culture and nature

Stawell offers several different reasons to stay: the Stawell Gift, cultural attractions in town and nature experiences nearby. When planning your trip, it’s worth separating the reason for your visit from your other interests. The race takes place at Easter, while the Hall of Fame, gallery and Heritage Trail are each cultural attractions in their own right. For time outdoors, consider the McCann Dam nature walk, a 2 km circuit, or exploring Stawell Ironbarks Forest. If you’re looking for a hotel in Stawell, you can choose what to prioritise based on whether the sporting event, culture or an excursion nearby will shape your stay.

The Stawell Gift and its history

The Stawell Gift is Australia’s oldest and richest short-distance race, and Central Park in Stawell is its home. It has been held every year at Easter since 1878. There were exceptions to this annual schedule from 1942 to 1945 because of the Second World War and in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Easter is therefore the key date to keep in mind if you’re planning your stay around the race. Check the specific event date for your trip.

The Stawell Gift Hall of Fame is located in Central Park. Its collection includes artefacts, memorabilia, multimedia clips and archives dating back to the origins of the Stawell Gift in 1878. As well as the annual sporting event, its long history is also a focus. The collection brings together different types of material, from physical memorabilia to audiovisual content and archival material.

Culture in Stawell

A council report published on 2 September 2025 describes the completed accessibility upgrades as available to visitors. At Cato Park, footpaths lead from two accessible parking spaces to both the Stella Young memorial and accessible toilets. If these paths are important for your plans, confirm their current condition before your visit.

The Stawell Railway Station Gallery displays works by local artists, and its exhibitions change. What you’ll see on a visit therefore depends on the exhibition period, while the gallery’s connection to local art remains constant. The Stawell Cultural Heritage Trail is also one of the interesting attractions in Stawell. These cultural attractions have different focuses: a memorial in Cato Park, changing art exhibitions at the gallery and a Heritage Trail as another destination.

Walks and nature nearby

The McCann Dam nature walk is in Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve, just outside Stawell. The circuit is 2 km long, and basic picnic facilities are just off Stawell-Deep Lead Road. Local conditions and facilities can change. If the walk or picnic facilities are important for your plans, check the current situation before setting out.

You can explore Stawell Ironbarks Forest on foot or by bike in the area around Stawell; seasonal conditions may affect access. The two nature experiences also differ in how they can be planned: the McCann Dam route is a 2 km circuit, while Ironbarks Forest can be explored on foot or by bike. If you’d like to plan around the length of a specific route, the McCann Dam nature walk is the more clearly defined option. When visiting the forest, take seasonal access conditions into account.

Discover more destinations: Rushworth, Navarre, Serviceton, Rawson, Corryong, Leichardt, Tarrawarra, East Warburton

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.