Lake Colac has always been an attraction, with boats first being used within it in , when an official rowing club was formed. Since then the water sports have only increased, with boating, water sports, and fishing all common activities within the lake. Folk can choose to join in on these activities, or simply enjoy the serenity this lake offers along the edge, visiting the nearby Botanic Cafe on the Lake or setting up a picnic rug for some privacy.
Located around 17 kilometres north of Colac, the lookout overlooks onto the 30 volcanic crater lakes found within the Corangamite Basion region. The area is popular for fishing, camping, swimming, skiing and birdwatching. It features a few buildings of historical significance including the post office built in , shire hall and the former Regent Theatre This block of parkland has been dedicated to those who served in the First World War and features a striking stone memorial, fountain, rotunda, playground, BBQ facilities and expanses of lawn.
Colac fronts the southern shores of Lake Colac - the largest natural freshwater lake in Victoria. This lake is popular with swimmers and boating enthusiasts, and includes a number of foreshore walking trails, jetties and boat ramps. There is a bird reserve in the wetlands off The Esplanade which attracts a diverse range of bird life to the lake.
Volcanic activity blocked the natural outflow of Lake Colac's two tributaries, Deans Creek and Barongarook Crek to the south of Lake Colac and caused the river to flow into the basin and leave alluvial deposits. Wind action caused lunettes to form, creating many of these shallow lakes and wetlands. Lake Colac is relatively shallow and has a water surface area of 2, ha.
The catchment area of the lake is square kilometres. Most of the catchment is made of volcanic materials, whilst tertiary sand and mudstones make up the remainder. Volcanic rock and soil has low permeability, creating higher runoff than the tertiary sand and mudstone sediments. From this place, the Gulidjan look across a wetland full of plants and birds to see Mount Warrion Bandicoot and the only high landmark before witnessing the volcanic creation of Red Rock Buukarang.
Lake Colac Foreshore Arts Project Located below the Botanic Gardens on the lake foreshore this major work was created by Glenn Romanis and artistic co-ordinator Libby McKinnon and an artistic team drawn from the colleges and schools in the area.
There is a detailed sign which explains that "The design for this artwork is based upon the left hind footprint of a Tachyglossus, an ancient ancestor to the Echidna, who roamed the western basalt plains approximately 40, years ago. The Boomerang The Manna Gum Leaf - once common now rare Red Rock as a volcano exploding thousands of years ago A site line and contour map of Red Rock "The front of the pad is shaped to symbolise the Red Rock Skyline to the north and the stone wall follows the shape of the Otways skyline to the south.
The stone wall represents European settlement. Indigenous plants that were once abundant in the area surround the installation. The genuinely interesting historic buildings include:. It is architecturally detailed and finished with a remarkably high degree of sophistication for buildings of that period located outside one of the major shopping streets in Melbourne. It features a classical colonnade entrance, windows with attenuated vertical proportions, aedicules using prominent pillar detailing and a classically inspired clock over the entranceway.
The Victorian Heritage Database notes: "This Italianate building is symmetrical about the entrance, presenting a robust and confident set of patterns to the street. The streetscape appearance is enhanced by the ground floor windows which are arched and echoed in the adjacent post office. If you cross over and look up you will see that the facade is that of the town's old Regent Theatre which was built in It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database.
Gentlemen's Club Located at 26 Murray Street this elegant building was built in and originally used as a gentlemen's club. It later became a branch of the National Bank. The building is very Arts and Crafts in its style with classical interpretations. The red brick from which it is built is the traditional building material of Arts and Crafts buildings and the excellent stone masonry is a tribute to the artisan who created the detailing to the facade.
The Masonic Temple is symmetrical and the facade is broken into three bays, a large central one dominated by a fine gable, and two smaller ones.
The larger bay also features a beautiful stained glass window which proudly shows the building's purpose not only in its Art Nouveau font cobalt lettering, but in the square and compass which appears in a cartouche above the words. This traditional symbol of the Masons is repeated not only in the stained glass window, but also in a bass relief in the apex of the gable and in cast iron on the two gates that lead into the temple building.
It was constructed of basalt which is said to have been transported from New Zealand as ballast on sailing ships bound for the goldfields. Impressive features include the tower and spire, the large roundel window in the west wall, the quality of the interior furnishings, the ironwork ornamentation and the masonry. Particularly impressive are the stained glass windows. It is a magnificent piece of stained glass dedicated to the memory of the pioneer of the Colac district, William Robertson, who died in The square was subsequently dedicated as a memorial to those who fought in World War I.
The Square has an impressive War Memorial which Monument Australia describes as "a large sandstone structure predominantly erected for World War One, but it has been supplemented with plaques to other conflicts. The memorial contained the names of men who had enlisted during the war. The memorial was opened on August 3rd by Lt. Governor Sir Edmund Herring. There is a memorial to the famous runner, Cliff Young, which reads: "In Cliff Young used this Memorial Square site to run km in 8 days 4 hours and 46 minutes, including km in 3 days 16 hours and 20 minutes, setting two world records for a person of 60 years.
This record achievement was the forerunner to his Sydney-Melbourne Ultra-Marathin win in , when he covered km in 5 days 15 hours and 4 minutes. The rail line came from Geelong and extended to Warrnambool. There was also a narrow gauge line which connected Colac to Beech Forest and Crowes. It was opened in and extended to Lavers Hill and Crowes in The line was turned into the Old Beechy Rail Trail see below in Old Beechy Rail Trail There is a 50 km rail trail from Colac to Beech Forest which was once a narrow-gauge railway line used to convey timber, potatoes and passengers from Beech Forest and Lavers Hill north to Colac from to There is an excellent brochure available at the Visitor Centre.
It has information about bike hire in the area. The Treetop Walk is metres long and 25 metres above the forest floor. The experience involves walking in a cool temperate rainforest comprising mainly Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and Mountain Ash. The total walk is 1.
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