Harvey Town, a once 3000-strong community during the peak of the gold rush might be a shadow of its former self, but its strong cultural and historical identity remains. 

Just four of Harvey Town’s original homes are left.

The Harvey brothers, after whom the town was named, were stonemasons during mid-1850s. They built at least five of the stone cottages later identified as parts of the town. 

Although never recognised as a town officially, the residents of the small sub-section of Eaglehawk have recognised their own mayor, John Oates, a distant relative of the Harvey brothers and their only remaining descendent in the town.

Mr Oates lives in one of the four remaining Harvey brother designed cottages and has done so his entire life. He holds fond memories of his childhood.

John left Harvey Town for a short period to take a job in what he thought was the secure field of the railways. He eventually returned when the “job for life” abruptly ended. 

According to John, returning to the very same house where he was born and that the Harvey brothers built, was one of the best things he ever did.

“I love it here. I’m that sentimental, it’s really unbelievable. I’m glad that I came back,” he said. 

According to City of Greater Bendigo councillor Peter Cox, Harvey Town was little known within the greater community.

“To history buffs it’s well known, but even a lot of people in Eaglehawk wouldn’t know,” he said.

Although the church, the general store and other speciality shops of its heyday no longer stand, the upcoming unveiling of nine new interpretive signs allows the community to take a step back in time.

Harvey Town’s residents said visitors from as far as Cornwall, in the south of England, had come to discover this hidden township.

 Councillor Cox said the new signs were the push the residents needed to properly promote Harvey Town.

“Neighbours were seeing people driving up and getting out, walking around the place over the years. It made a whole lot of sense that if people are visiting, to give them the information they wanted.” he said.

Harvey Town resident Lar Eiffe has lived on the historical site for almost eight years. 

Ms Eiffe was the main driver of the interpretive project and said she was thrilled with the result. 

“It’s very exciting. This is why we wanted the signs, to give a bit more detail so people visiting could visualise it,” she said.

Ms Eiffe’s next step in her quest to promote Harvey Town is to put pen to paper.

“I love the ambience of it and it’s historically important,” she said of her home town.

“One day I will get all this information together and write a book about Harvey Town.”