It proved to be one of the richest finds during the Australian gold rushes, but the gold was so easily found that it was soon largely exhausted and by the end of the year a large proportion of the miners had already left for other recent finds (although deeper deposits continued to be mined for many years).

This was not before the Victorian government gazetted the township of Heathcote on the site and ordered the construction of several official buildings.

The post office opened on 1 July 1853 as McIvor Creek but six months later, on 1 January 1854, was renamed Heathcote.

A gang of at least six robbers and possibly as large as twelve bailed up a gold escort that departed Heathcote on the way to Kyneton.

Heathcote is the closest major town to the Heathcote-Graytown National Park and Lake Eppalock.

[9] Heathcote continued to thrive over the next two seasons playing off in the Grand Final until a mass exodus of players.

Despite the reluctance of many to play alongside such a divisive character, the Saints maintained their century-long streak of at least one win per season.