Welcome.

From here you can listen to podcasts, wander through our photo collection, request information, and learn about – or become involved in - the life and history of our popular town.

Like all towns, the Trentham we see today is a product of its history and geography. Since white settlement, its fortunes were shaped by factors such as isolation, altitude (700m), proximity to the forest and notoriously harsh weather. It was not an easy location and Trentham developed as a modest, hardworking community that was strongly linked to its surrounding district, and which needed to constantly adapt to survive.  

The gold rush of the early 1850s played a part but it was big timber from the forest, needed for the gold mines and the growth of Melbourne that shaped the town, along with farming (especially potatoes, something we still celebrate). In the twentieth century, manufacturing also became influential.

Farming remains important but most people today know Trentham for its great food and wonderful historic ambiance. It has retained an innate sense of timelessness, with simple houses, open spaces and an historic main street. For residents and visitors who love the peace and natural beauty, it has become an oasis – a place to wander and enjoy.

If you would like to know more about Trentham’s history see our timelines. [inset link]