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Eaglehawk Country House Hotel

Name: Eaglehawk Country House Hotel
Address: 35A Reef Street, Maldon VIC 3463, Australia, Bendigo, Victoria, 3463, AU
Telephone: 0408 242 269

Bendigo, Victoria Capacity: Up to 80

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About

Overview & Vibe

The Eaglehawk is an 1854 goldrush hotel in Maldon that burned down in the late 1800s, was rebuilt in Edwardian splendour in 1906, and traded as a public house until the gold ran out in 1926. It is now a self-catering country house hotel, and what it sells is unusual: exclusive use of the whole building and gardens, with no in-house catering and no bar tab. You bring the food, the drink and the guests.

Setting & Style

Six distinct spaces, each with its own character. The Public Bar is the original 1906 room — sumptuous banquette, quirky stools, leadlight windows and the original bar. The Ladies' Lounge is two adjoining rooms with an eight-seater table and two open fireplaces. The Grand Dining Hall is the largest, with multiple lounge areas and a grand baronial chandelier. The Conservatory is light-filled and looks over the gardens, and the Porch — the front of the original hotel — is the spot for photographs and drinks. The gardens hold the ceremony: fountains, large ceramic pots, an antique tofu-maker herb garden, a pizza oven and several seating areas, with lighting through the trees at night.

Ideal For

Couples who want to do it their own way and are not frightened of organising. Because the hotel is self-catering and BYO there is no minimum spend on food or drink — you can DIY, bring your own chef, use local Maldon caterers, or mix all three, and whatever your guests do not drink you take home. The venue is honest that this takes effort and publishes a vetted supplier list to start from. It also suits couples who want more than one day: the rental fee covers two or more nights, so a family gathering the evening before and a wood-fired pizza lunch the day after are included rather than extra.

The Need-to-Knows

Accommodation sleeps only 16 in-house, with a motel next door taking 26 more and cottages available through a local agency. A $3,000 security bond applies, of which $1,000 is pre-authorised on a credit card.

Standout Feature

You can hold the ceremony on a steam train. The Victorian Goldfields Railway runs from Maldon within walking distance of the hotel, and the Eaglehawk suggests it outright for couples wanting something different. Failing that, the gardens have a wet-weather plan that most venues would envy — a light-filled conservatory or the undercover heritage porch of an 1854 hotel.

Contact

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Website

eaglehawkhotelmaldon.com.au

Phone

0408 242 269

Address

35A Reef Street, Maldon VIC 3463, Australia

Amenities

Exclusive Use
On-site Accommodation
Commercial Kitchen
BYO Permitted
Historic Building
Fireplace
Pizza Oven
Free Parking
Audio Visual Equipment

Ceremony Setting

garden
outdoor
indoor

Dietary Options Supported

No details available.

Nearby Landmarks

Maldon – The hotel is in the town centre, at 35A Reef Street; the site calls Maldon "Australia's First Notable Town"
Victorian Goldfields Railway – The heritage steam railway is "within walking distance from the Hotel" and the venue offers ceremonies on board
Castlemaine – 15 minutes away, and Maldon is "only 10km from Castlemaine"
Bendigo – 25 minutes away
Melbourne – 90 minutes from the CBD

On Site Accommodation

Accommodation for up to 16 guests in-house, with flexible bedding configuration between king and single beds, included in the wedding rental fee
Two or more nights accommodation with late checkout at 5pm, included in the rental fee
Additional accommodation for up to 26 guests at the motel next door, and cottages throughout Maldon through a local agency — neither operated by the hotel

Price Notes

No figure is published, but the commercial model is stated plainly and is unusual enough to be the main thing to understand about this venue. "Our all inclusive approach means you get exclusive use of the hotel with all the extras to host your wedding. CATERING is arranged by the couple. The hotel publishes a vetted supplier list and recommends local chefs Richenda Pritchard and Claudine Lebrun for full-service catering including menu, kitchen management, wait staff and bar management; other listed suppliers include The Vine & The Farmer for grazing tables, Spade to Blade Daylesford and Johnny Baker of Castlemaine. A $30 administration charge applies to any variation or cancellation made less than 28 days before check-in, and reducing guest numbers inside 28 days is treated as a cancellation for those guests. Smoking indoors incurs a $300 cleaning fee and removing flowers or plants from the garden incurs a $300 fee, both deducted from the bond. Security cameras are installed.

Price Per Head