Port Fairy

Port Fairy Vic 3284 (Pop 2 800)

Pic: by Peter Barber

Port Fairy is a charming Great Ocean Road town 290 km s-w of Melbourne. This former whaling centre and originally one of Australia’s largest ports has retained its old-world ambience with its historic buildings and old wharf lined with small fishing vessels. Original inhabitants were the Knarn Kolak Aborigines who left behind numerous shell middens, followed by 19^th century sealers and whalers with the town established in 1840s. Tourism and fishing (shark, abalone, crayfish) support the local economy. Port Fairy Folk Festival (Mar), Spring Music Festival (Oct), Moyneyana Festival (Dec).  

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Botanical Gardens, Fairy St established in 1858 from swamplands. Historic Port Fairy (over 50 buildings) including  Mott’s Cottage (1830/40s), John Mills Cottage (1840s), Seacombe House (1847), St John’s Church (1853), Star of the West Hotel (1856), St Patrick’s Church (1858), Port Fairy History Centre, Gipps St housed in the grand old Courthouse (1859) with fascinating local history displays, photographs and memorabilia. Open (2pm-4pm) Wed /weekends. Daily in school holidays. Port FairyWharves used by both recreational and commercial fishermen and for pleasurable walks. Battery Hill and Fort, Griffith St historic fort and signal station.  

Nearby:
Woodbine (Belfast Lough) wonderful Georgian limestone home (1845) which is one of Victoria’s oldest farmhouses. Shipwreck Walk (starts at Gipps St) 2 km beach walk documenting the various historic shipwrecks in this small stretch of coastline. Griffiths Island (reached by causeway on Gipps St) formerly housed a whaling station (1836) and was named after John Griffiths who ran it. An Aboriginal mission followed (1850-53) and today the island is home to lighthouse and a large muttonbird population (Sept-Apr). The Crags (12 km west) jagged coastal rock coastal formations. Lady Julia Percy Island (22 km s-w) volcanic outcrop surrounded by soaring cliffs and home to a number of seabird rookeries and a fur seal colony. Yambuk (17 km west) charming village with an old inn and nearby Yambuk Lake with a sand dune slide. Mahogany Walk to Warrnambool (6 hour one way) following the spectacular coastline.

Accommodation:
Port Fairy has 7 motels, 3 hotels, a dozen B&Bs, holiday apartments/cottages and 6 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: 22 Bank St. Tel (03) 5568 2682.