Koroit - Places to See

Over the road is the State Bank of Victoria in a building constructed in 1876 as a doctor's residence. It became the Colonial Bank of Australasia and, in 1920, the State Bank.

On the south-western corner of Commercial Rd and High St is Bourke's Koroit Hotel, erected in 1853 (other sources suggest 1856). At that time it was a simple two-storey bluestone structure. The elaborate Art Nouveau facade was added in the early 1900s. The interior is furnished with antiques to create a period feel.

Heritage Walk - High St
Turn right, heading south along High St. To the left, just before the bend in the road, is the Guide Hall, built in the late 19th century as a fire station. On the same side of the road, slightly further along, is the civic centre and library. The north wing was built in 1870 to house the Koroit Borough Chambers. The south wing was added in 1970.

Further along High St, on the other side of the road (over King St) is the former Tower Hill Lake National School, built of sandstone in 1857. The school has an unusual design with the central section being used as the teacher's residence while the two wings were used as classrooms. It is one of the oldest national schools in the state.

Heritage Walk - Botanic Gardens
Proceed south along High St. To the right are the Botanic Gardens which were constructed on land set aside in 1862. These are no ordinary rural town gardens. They were designed in 1880 by William Guilfoyle who at the time was the curator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. He designed the winding paths and sweeping lawns. Today only five conifers remain from the plantings that took place in the 1880s. However the gardens do have some genuine rarities. Six of the trees are registered with the National Trust and the Dragon's Blood Tree is on the World Rare and Endangered List. There are children's play facilities and electric barbecues.

Heritage Walk - Garden St
Return to High St and proceed a short distance southwards to the intersection of High St and Garden St. On the eastern side of the road are 'Old Hillcrest' (1910) and an early cottage built in 1860. It has been considerably altered over the years although the thatched roof remains under the galvanised iron. Over the road is the former Methodist Church (1865-67) which is now a scout hall.

Walk along Garden St to the Scots Presbyterian Church (1859). The manse dates from the 1860s.

Cross over Anzac Ave. Slightly further along, on the right-hand side of the road, is an antiquated horse trough. It was one of many placed in country Victoria by Annis and George Bills in the late 19th century.

Further west, on the other side of the road, are a couple of early settlers' cottages.

Heritage Walk - Catholic Precinct
Return along Garden St then turn right into Anzac Ave. To the right is the former Convent of the Good Samaritan, now an hostel. Opposite is St Patrick's School. The oldest of its buildings dates back to 1890.

Cross over Queen St. To the immediate left is the Catholic Church of the Infant Jesus. It was designed by William Wardell who was also the architect of St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne. The first section was completed in 1870 with additions made in 1915-16. The adjacent presbytery dates from the late 1880s.

Heritage Walk - Conclusion
Continue south along Anzac Ave then turn left into Anne St. At the corner of Anne St and Horne St is a fine home built in 1918 (note the shamrock in the stonework above the front left window).

Turn left, heading north along Horne St. To the right is St Paul's Anglican Church (1870). Slightly further north, where Horne St connects with High St (on the right-hand side of the road), is a fine Edwardian weatherboard home built in 1900.

Tower Hill Pottery Collectables
Tower Hill Pottery Collectables, at 145 Commercial Rd, is an art-and-craft gallery which sells folk art, paintings, pottery, glassware, tapestries and restored antique clocks. Most pieces are by local artists. They are open weekends from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: (03) 5565 8888.

Rosebank
At the southern end of town, on Lake Rd (just west of the intersection with Anzac Ave), is 'Rosebank' which started its existence as a stone cottage erected in the 1850s. Substantial additions were made later in the 19th century. It is a Classical Revival stuccoed structure with a verandah and attractive cast-iron lacework which was built for David McLaws who moved into the area from Port Fairy. He was the original licensee of the Koroit Hotel (now Bourke's Koroit Hotel).

Tower Hill State Game Reserve
Tower Hill State Game Reserve (614 ha) is situated in the crater of an extinct volcano which formed thousands of years ago when a violent eruption created the funnel-shaped crater which was later filled by the lake with its various small islets. Aboriginal relics found in volcanic ash indicate Aboriginal occupation from the time when the volcano was still active. The first known Europeans to sight the hill were the party of Captain Baudin in 1802.

A detailed 1855 painting of Tower Hill by Viennese artist Eugene Von Guerard depicted a variety of flora and fauna which had virtually disappeared by the end of the 1860s due to the clearing practices of European settlers who used the local soils for agriculture and who grazed cattle on the islands. Remarkably, Von Guerard's painting (housed in the Warrnambool Regional Art Gallery) was used as the basis of a revegetation program entailing 300 000 plantings since 1961. This process encouraged the return of wildlife and the reserve now features kangaroos, many koalas, wombats, sugar gliders, possums, echidnae, numerous waterbirds (including Cape Barren geese, musk ducks, spoonbills and chestnut teals) and some very bold emus which enjoy the picnic area (feeding is strictly prohibited).

It is located just 3 km from Koroit. Proceed south along High St, which becomes Lakeside Drive, until you reach the intersection with the Princes Highway. Turn right, proceed past the Tower Hill cemetery (see next entry) then up the hill and there is a signposted turnoff on the right. It leads past a lookout area before it proceeds over a land bridge to the main body of land which is virtually surrounded by Tower Hill Lake. The road then continues on past a picnic area with toilets and barbecue facilities and the Natural History Centre which outlines the geology and history of Tower Hill. Rangers are occasionally available to help with enquiries. Guided tours (nocturnal and diurnal) can be booked. The centre is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., tel: (03) 5565 9202.

The picnic area is the starting point for the Lava Tongue Boardwalk -a 30-minute wetland walk which leads to a bird hide and a second boardwalk. It also connects with the Whurrong Loop Track (one hour) which focuses on Aboriginal foods. The picnic area is also the start of the Hat Island Habitat Loop Track (a revegetation walk of 45 minutes), the Journey to the Last Volcano (a geological walk of one hour) and the Peak Climb (for orientation and geological purposes). All are easy-going treks except the latter.

From the centre, the access road leads on by the inner lake shore, past another good birdwatching area then reaches a junction from whence there are good views. A right will take you back to the highway while a left leads onto a road that follows the rim of the volcano around the outer edge of the lake.

Tower Hill Cemetery
The grave of Walter Richardson, the father of novelist Henry Handel Richardson, is located in Tower Hill Cemetery. Walter, a doctor, came to Koroit in 1878 with his family when his mental and physical health were declining. He died the following year. 'Henry' was nine at the time of his death. The first burial in the cemetery dates back to 1856. It is located adjacent the Princes Highway, en route to Tower Hill Reserve.