Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of Colac Otway Shire were the Coladjin Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1837 when pastoralists settled around the eastern and southern banks of Lake Colac. Settlers and pastoralists arrived in the rural areas from the 1850s, when timber-getting and sawmills were established. Development was slow until the 1880s, following improved access to the area brought about by the opening of the Princes Highway and the railway line from Melbourne. The township of Colac continued to grow in the early 1900s. The coastal townships were established largely from the 1880s, although Apollo Bay was established in the 1860s. Some development occurred in the interwar period, mainly in the rural townships of Irrewarra and Larpent, where land was purchased for soldier settlement. The Great Ocean Road was opened in 1932, improving access to the coastal towns and villages, with tourism spurring growth from the 1950s. The most significant development occurred in the post-war period, particularly between 1947 and 1961. In the 1960s some subdivision of coastal areas occurred, with growth continuing in Apollo Bay. Since the 1970s rural-residential living has become increasingly popular, with growth in smaller settlements in the Otways and further inland, such as Barongarook, Birregurra, Cressy, Forrest, Johanna and Lavers Hill. The population has been relatively stable since the 1990s.

Land use

Colac Otway Shire is a rural, residential and resort area. The Shire encompasses a total land area of about 3,400 square kilometres, of which a large proportion is State Forest and National Park, including beaches, coastline, rainforests, waterfalls, lakes and craters. Much of the rural area is used for timber-getting and agriculture, with farming, cropping and dairying being the main agricultural pursuits. Agricultural activity is concentrated in the northern part of the Shire, although timber and fishing are prevalent in the south. Tourism is an important industry, especially in the southern section along the Great Ocean Road. The Shire has two main townships, with many small villages and localities. The largest town is Colac, which serves as an administrative, retail and commercial centre. The other major township is Apollo Bay, which serves as the major tourism centre.

Transport

Colac Otway Shire is served by the Hamilton Highway, the Princes Highway, the Great Ocean Road and the Geelong-Warrnambool railway line, with stations at Colac and Birregurra.

Major features

• Major features of Colac Otway Shire include Great Otway National Park (including Maits Rest,
• Melba Gully,
• Shelly Beach and Triplet Falls),
• Port Campbell National Park,
• Lake Colac,
• Cape Otway Lightstation,
• Otway Fly Treetop Adventures,
• The Great Ocean Road,
• The Great Ocean Walk,
• Maits Rest Rainforest Walk,
• Barham Paradise Scenic Reserve,
• Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary,
• Apollo Bay Boat Harbour,
• The Colac CBD,
• Colac Otway Performing Arts & Cultural Centre (COPACC),
• Colac Botanic Gardens,
• The Gordon Institute of TAFE (Colac Trade Training Centre),
• South West TAFE (Colac Campus),
• several waterfalls and various beaches.

Included areas