History & Heritage
The Otways refer to a large area of small towns set amongst the Otway Ranges Forest that extends to the Great Ocean Road. Cape Otway was named by Royal Navy Lieutenant Grant who discovered the Cape while a surveying the Victorian coast in his Ship the Lady Nelson. Named after a Captain Otway in 1801, settlement of the area was very limited. A lighthouse was established in 1848 and was important for local shipping as the coast was named the Shipwreck Coast for obvious reasons.
A Telegraph Station was established at Parker River to provide communications to Tasmania as this was one of the shortest points between the two land masses, it was a failure and the replacement cable was moved to nearby Apollo Bay. During the 1880’s the town Beech Forrest was established, becoming popular with the timber industry due to the large surrounding beech and blackwood trees. The area became home to around 30 timber mills, prompting a railway line to be established to Colac in 1902.
Discovery and settlement
Captain Loutit named Apollo Bay in 1845 after his ship, the Apollo. He had pulled into the bay to shelter during a storm. The first settlers arrived in the area about 1850. The attraction was timber and sawmills operated from 1852, with sleepers for the Bendigo railway being sent by ship to the railhead in Geelong.
A jetty was built in 1855 on the site of the present Apollo Bay harbour. Its last replacement extended from the surf club area and was used from 1892 unitl 1954 when the harbour was constructed. Concrete pylons still remain visible in the sand today.
Timber & Farming
Pastoralism, cropping, dairying, timber-getting, railway servicing, and commercial activities have all played their parts in the history and development of the diverse area which is now Colac Otway Shire. Colac developed as a commercial centre, firstly serving pastoralists and then more diverse agriculturalists. Timber helped the development of such centres as Forrest and Apollo Bay, and timber mills remained important at Birregurra until 2001. They are still major employers at Colac. Dairying became a major industry in the 20th century and small factories or creameries served farmers at Swan Marsh, Birregurra, Alvie, Cororooke, Beeac, Carlisle and Nalangil. A railway network centred on Colac provided much employment, and at centres such as Cressy and Birregurra. The famous "Beechy" narrow-gauge train line opened much of the Beech Forest area to productive farming, as well as making the timber industry more viable.
Many old timber worker cottages can still be found in the region such as the one pictured.
Volcanic plains
There is a wealth of geological interest in the Western Districts volcanic plains landscape, with around 40 maar volcanoes and surrounding tuff rings. The Red Rock volcanic complex is on the eastern edge of Lake Corangamite, near Colac. It consists of overlapping maars, scoria cones and small lava flows. Forty separate eruption points have been found, with many craters now filled with water. It is estimated to be around 8,000 years old and possibly the third-largest volcanic plain in the world. Volcanic eruptions began some 12,000 years ago and continued until about 6,000 years ago, making Red Rock one of the youngest volcanoes in Australia. The volcanoes at Red Rock threw out three different products: basalt lava, ash and scoria.
Maritime history
The sea provided the main lifeline to the settlements that grew along the Great Ocean Road coast. In the early days, even before settlement, whalers and sealers operated along this rugged coast. Many of the early settlers were involved in the timber industry, using ships to carry their logs to the outside world and relying on those same ships to bring in their vital supplies.
With all this activity, and the passing passenger and cargo ships that plied the ocean between England and Australia, shipwreck tragedy was inevitable. Dozens of ships and scores of lives were lost in Bass Strait. A lighthouse was built at Cape Otway in 1848 to warn vessels of the dangers.
Some of the wrecks around Apollo Bay include the Casino (pictured), which sank in the harbour with the loss of 10 lives in 1932, and the City of Rayville, a US cargo ship that sank after hitting a mine off Cape Otway in 1940. It was the first American shipping casualty of World War Two.
Old Cable Station Museum
The first telegraph connection to Tasmania is also a part of local history, and ran to Parker River at Cape Otway. After only one year with many breakdowns, it was abandoned with the Cape Otway Telegraph Station then acting as Lloyds Signal Station, sending shipping information to Melbourne by telegraph. Subsequent cables were laid, with the Apollo Bay Cable Station set up at the Victorian end, and officially opened in April 1936. This connection provided telephone, telegraph and broadcasting channels until 1963 when a failure occurred between King Island and Stanley. Telecommunications links are now provided by microwave. The Station is now open to visitors 2-5pm on weekends and other times during holiday periods.
Otway Trails
COLAC HISTORIC WALK
Explore the history and architectural wonders of Colac by following the Colac Heritage Walk taking in historic churches and buildings in the town.
BIRREGURRA HERITAGE WALK
Discover the history and scenic beauty of the historic Birregurra township. A wide main street houses many original buildings and a gentle climb takes in the many historic churches with views over the Barwon Plains.
RED ROCK
Scenic drive and volcanic vistas 45 minute return drive from Colac. Located 17km from Colac Red Rock has over 40 eruption points and is the youngest dormant volcano in the western plains.
WYE RIVER HERITAGE TRAIL
Discover the historic small coastal town township of Wye River with it's timber milling history and remnants of the tramway.
CRESSY HERITAGE TRAIL
Explore the historic township of Cressy. Admire the mosaic couch and the bluestone church in the main street or stroll down the Avenue of Honour commemorating those who made the supreme sacrifice.
NOTE: All trails are able to be downloaded from their "Town" page on this website. Trails are also available from Colac and Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centres.