Nagambie – it is claimed – is derived from the Aboriginal word for ‘lagoon’. Some lagoon!

Its magnificent lake looks over a township of some 1,500 people and plays hosts to thousands of tourists each year in search of their own dream time.

The first white men to set foot in the area belonged to the party of explorer Thomas Mitchell who crossed the Goulburn River and established a route for overlanders using the same river crossing which, by 1838, was also utilised for the mail run from Sydney to Melbourne. In true Aussie tradition, a licensed inn was soon one of the region’s main attractions.

The world famous Chateau Tahbilk was established in 1860 by French vigneron Ludovic Marie and was soon followed by a hotel, a church and blacksmith to cater for the teamsters en route to Sydney.

The area is also famous for exploits of the Kelly Gang and a number of ‘mementos’ remain in the vicinity.

Progress has certainly caught up with the Nagambie Lakes Region, but not to the point where it has lost its old world charm. A modern day treasure!