Lexton: Gardens, Hills and History

Gentle hills and a landscape shaped by eucalyptus trees give Lexton a rural character; along the creek beds, red gums grow. The area is also home to gardens and a lake on Mount Mitchell, as well as historical landmarks including a homestead, an inn & store, churches and a memorial plaque. This gives visitors different starting points for planning a trip: landscapes to take in and a history spanning widely separated eras.

Gardens and Landscape

Mount Mitchell in Lexton covers more than 10 acres of well-kept gardens. They include formal rose gardens, impressive kitchen gardens, parkland and an extensive orchard. The formal rose gardens offer a different character from the kitchen gardens; the parkland and orchard add further garden styles to the grounds. A lake on Mount Mitchell offers a view to the west, with the Pyrenees rising in the background. The garden spaces and the lake view offer different impressions: landscaped areas on the one hand, and the westward view with its mountain backdrop on the other.

Historical Milestones

The Pyrenees & Grampians Touring Route describes Lexton as one of Victoria's earliest inland settlements. The historic Mount Mitchell Homestead was established in 1838. The site of the Pyrenees Hotel in Lexton was home to the Burnbank Inn & Store, which operated from 1845 to around 1859. Lexton Court House and St Mary's Anglican Church were built in 1874; the Court House is also featured on the Walking Tour of Lexton. St Joseph's Catholic Church was built in 1894, and the Major Mitchell Memorial Plaque was unveiled in 1930. The shared construction year places a courthouse and an Anglican church—distinct buildings—side by side in time; St Joseph's was built twenty years later. Together, these historical landmarks span the first half of the 19th century through to the 20th century.

Getting Oriented and Exploring

Lexton is on the Sunraysia Highway between Ballarat and Avoca. The Pyrenees & Grampians Touring Route passes through Waubra, Lexton and Avoca. The highway location and touring route offer different points of reference: the highway description locates Lexton between two named places, while the touring route names it alongside Waubra and Avoca. To explore the area, the route recommends picking up a Historic Town Walk brochure at the Community Centre in Lexton and exploring the town. Brochure availability may change; check in advance whether one is available if you would like to follow this recommendation.

Lexton as a Possible Base

When choosing where to stay, you can first decide which focus you want to shape your visit: the garden styles and views of the Pyrenees, or the historical landmarks spanning different eras. If you would like to include both in your trip, you can add Lexton as a location to your hotel search. That way, you can base your accommodation decision on the mix of landscape and history you want before choosing a specific option.

Discover more destinations: Hawkesdale, Burwood, Faraday, Drung, Smiths Beach, Kerang, Yarrambat, Moondarra

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.