Kiandra

• Summary
• Weather for Kiandra

Kiandra, at the northern end of Kosciuszko National Park, was the scene of one of the shortest gold rushes in Australia from 1859 to 1860. The discovery of gold led to a sudden influx of gold seekers, so that by early 1860 there were about 4000 people in the town, including about 500 Chinese. As well as hundreds of miners' huts, there were 25 stores, 14 hotels and a lock-up.

After 1861, once the rush was over, the population stabilised at between 200 and 300. By the 1960s, the town had all but emptied. Today, Kiandra is a ghost town, but one that is well worth a visit with many of its original buildings signposted on the heritage trail.

A heritage walk signposts the sites of many of the original buildings. Straddling the Snowy Mountains Highway, Kiandra is easily accessible from either Khancoban or Tumut.