Taradale
VIC 3447 • Victoria
About Taradale
Taradale is a small historic town in the Shire of Mount Alexander in central Victoria, located approximately 103 kilometres north-west of Melbourne and 18 kilometres south-east of Castlemaine. Covering nearly 48 square kilometres in the Central Goldfields region, the town sits beside the Calder Highway between Melbourne and Bendigo and has a population of around 524. Taradale developed as a service and transport hub during the Victorian gold rush era, and its rural character and heritage streetscapes are largely intact today.
The town is perhaps best known for the Taradale Viaduct, a historic 36-metre-tall railway bridge built between 1858 and 1862 that still carries the Melbourne–Bendigo line across Back Creek. Taradale's main street offers a pub, a general store, and a scattering of heritage buildings, while surrounding farmland and bushland provide opportunities for walking and cycling. Its location on the Calder Freeway makes it accessible for day-trippers from Melbourne, and the proximity to Castlemaine and Kyneton means residents can easily access larger regional services, galleries, cafes, and markets.
Taradale falls under postcode 3447 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Macedon (Northern Victoria) electorate.
Location
Transport & Commute
Nearest Train Stations
Bus Services
- Regional coach (V/Line) — Bendigo and Melbourne (Southern Cross) Approx. 1.5–2 hours to Melbourne
Commute to Melbourne CBD
🛣️ Calder Freeway (M79) provides direct access toward Melbourne; Taradale's own station closed in 1976
Taradale is a very small rural town with minimal services; a car is required for most daily needs
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Calder Highway