With a firm nod to its rich history and folklore, this picturesque town is forging a prosperous and cosmopolitan future.
Story Sue Wallace
Tucked away in the shadows of mounts Buller and Stirling lies the picturesque town of Mansfield. In September, Mansfield was in the headlines as being close to the epicentre of a substantial earthquake that registered a magnitude of 5.9, however little damage was done to this Victorian gem, apart from goods falling from supermarket shelves. Mansfield mayor Mark Holcombe says they were very lucky considering the epicentre was at Gaffneys Creek about 80km away, where a dozen miners were underground. “People were shaken but fortunately there were no injuries – old-timers say it was the third earthquake in 80 years,” he says.
Mark moved to Mansfield 23 years ago. “I was looking to ditch corporate life in Melbourne and we visited a dozen country towns and left Mansfield until the end, and were immediately drawn by the cosmopolitan mix of people, great facilities and the landscape,” he says.
This story excerpt is from Issue #140
Outback Magazine: December/January 2022
