Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of Warrnambool City were the Gunditj-mara and Kirrae Whurrong Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1847 when the first land sales were made, with land used mainly for grazing. Growth took place in the 1850s, with the township of Warrnambool developing as an important coastal port. Expansion took place from the 1870s into the early 1890s, mainly in the south, spurred by the opening of the railway line from Melbourne. Some growth took place in the interwar period, with the population reaching about 7,700 in the 1920s. Significant development occurred during the post-war years. From the 1970s the population continued to grow, although at a slower rate.

Land use

Warrnambool City includes the major centre of Warrnambool (residential, commercial and industrial land use) and the surrounding rural hinterland. Warrnambool is the main service centre for south-western Victoria, as well as being a popular retirement and tourist destination. The City encompasses a total land area of 120 square kilometres. Much of the rural area is used for agriculture, particularly dairy farming.

Transport

Warrnambool City is served by the Hopkins Highway, the Princes Highway and the Melbourne-Geelong-Warrnambool railway line.

Major features

• Major features of Warrnambool City include Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village,
• Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground,
• Logans Beach Whale Nursery Viewing Platform,
• Thunder Point Coastal Reserve,
• Warrnambool Botanic Gardens,
• Lighthouse Theatre,
• Warrnambool Art Gallery,
• Warrnambool Stadium,
• AquaZone,
• Cheese World,
• The Warrnambool CBD,
• Armada Gateway Plaza Shopping Centre,
• Northpoint Shopping Centre,
• Deakin University (Warrnambool Campus),
• South West TAFE (Warrnambool Campus and Sherwood Park - Warrnambool Campus),
• part of Bay of Islands Coastal Park,
• The Hopkins River and the Merri River.

Included areas