Beech Forest, Victoria: Travel guide and things to do

Located 193 km south-west of Melbourne and 43 km south of Colac on the northern edge of the Otway Ranges, Beech Forest is a tiny township which achieved its moment of national fame in 1983 when a 61-year-old local potato farmer, Cliff Young, won a race from Sydney to Melbourne.

The town, self-evidently, was named after the Beech (myrtle) trees which abound in the local area. It was first settled by Europeans in the 1880s as a result of pressure to open the Otway Ranges to settlement. The first land selection occurred in 1884 and the first pub was built four years later. It is claimed that J.W. Gardner, who built the Ditchley Park Hotel around this time, completed the 14-room structure using the timber from a single giant mountain ash. With this kind of timber Beech Forest quickly became a major centre for the local timber industry. There were 29 timber mills in district at one point.

This was compounded when, in 1902, the railway from Colac arrived. It was a narrow gauge railway and when it was extended to Crowes it became the longest narrow gauge railway in Victoria. The railway provided transport for local timber and huge stands of beech, blackwood and ash were cut down.

During the period from the end of World War I the town became a major centre for potato production. In 1919 a bushfire destroyed the town. It was rebuilt to the east of the original site.

Today it is the administrative centre for the Shire of Otway and is surrounded by pine plantations which sustain the local timber industry.

Things to see

Triplet Falls
4 km west of Beech Forest, 200 metres before you reach the main intersection, turn left into Phillips Track. Follow the signs then turn right into Youngs Creek Track and follow it for 100 metres to the carpark. Follow the walking track downstream to Triplet Falls which tumble in three stages (hence the name of the falls) over the rocks.

Beauchamp Falls , Hopetoun Falls and the Aire River
2 km east of Beech Forest, along Turtons Track, is a turnoff into Aire Valley Plantation Road which heads south off the main road. A signposted turnoff leads to Beauchamp Falls Scenic Reserve where there are picnic facilities and a one-hour walking track. Further south along Aire Valley Road is another turnoff (also signposted) to Hopetoun Falls. The road continues south down the valley to the Aire River crossing where there are picnic tables, fireplaces and toilets. The river is recommended for fishing. The road from Beech Forest through to Apollo Bay on the coast is also delightful.

Drive to Forrest
Head east of Beech Forest along Turtons Track which is a beautiful route through thick rainforest vegetation. After 16 km it reaches a T-intersection with the Colac-Apollo Bay Road. Turn left. After 2 km turn right to visit Mt Sabine Fire Tower Reserve, offering outstanding views of the Otways and the coast.

Return to the main road and continue north for 9 km to Barramunga. At the school camp turn left to Stevensons Falls and picnic area.

Return to the main road once again and continue north for 5 km. A turnoff on the right leads to West Barwon Dam Reserve where there is a carpark, picnic tables and toilets. This dam is the major water supply for Geelong.

2 km further north is the timber town of Forrest where there is a pub and an office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, tel: (03) 5236 6204. Either can give you directions to Lake Elizabeth which was created in 1953 (the year of Queen Elizabeth's coronation) as the result of a massive landslide. It is home to a number of platypuses and there are camping and picnicking facilities.