Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of Baw Baw Shire were the Kulin and Kurnai Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from the 1860s, with land used mainly for farming and timber production, and mining in some areas. Population was minimal until the 1870s, with growth through to the 1890s, spurred by the opening of the Gippsland railway line. Expansion continued during the early 1900s, particularly in the townships nearest the railway line. Growth took place in the larger townships of Drouin, Trafalgar and Warragul during the post-war years. Several water storage facilities were constructed, particularly during the 1970s. The population of the Shire gradually increased from the 1990s, with more substantial growth from 2006. Most of the recent growth has been in Drouin and Warragul. Population growth is expected to continue.

Land use

Baw Baw Shire is a predominantly rural area, with rural-residential and urban areas in numerous townships. The Shire encompasses a total land area of about 4,025 square kilometres. The northern part of the Shire is heavily forested, while the southern part is used largely for dairy farming and agriculture. The middle part of the Shire is more densely populated, particularly along the Princes Highway and the Gippsland railway line. The main population centres are Warragul and Drouin, and to a lesser extent, Longwarry, Trafalgar and Yarragon. Smaller townships include Darnum, Drouin South, Drouin West, Erica, Jindivick, Neerim South, Noojee, Rawson, Tanjil Bren, Thorpdale, Walhalla and Willow Grove. Land is used largely for dairying, farming (particularly beef, potatoes and fruit and vegetables) and forestry. Tourism is also an important industry.

Transport

Baw Baw Shire is served by the Princes Highway and the Gippsland railway line.

Major features

• Major features of Baw Baw Shire include Baw Baw National Park,
• Bunyip State Park (part),
• Moondarra State Park,
• Mount Worth State Park,
• Tyers Park,
• Bull Beef Creek Nature Conservation Reserve,
• Sweetwater Creek Nature Conservation Reserve,
• Thomson Dam,
• Moondarra Reservoir,
• Tarago Reservoir,
• Blue Rock Lake,
• Narracan Falls Streamside Reserve,
• Toorongo Falls Reserve,
• Tanjil State Forest,
• Walhalla Goldfields Railway,
• Noojee Trestle Bridge,
• Walhalla Goldfields Rail Trail,
• Great Walhalla Alpine Trail,
• Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine,
• Labertouche Caves,
• West Gippsland Hospital,
• Federation Training (Warragul Campus),
• West Gippsland Arts Centre,
• Warragul Leisure Centre,
• Drouin Golf & Country Club,
• Trafalgar Golf Club,
• Warragul Country Club and numerous vineyards and wineries.

Included areas