Forrest, Victoria

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Forrest
state = vic


caption =
lga = Colac Otway Shire
postcode = 3236
pop = 170
est =
stategov = Polwarth
fedgov = Corangamite
dist1 = 158
dir1 = SW
location1= Melbourne
dist2 = 84
dir2 = W
location2= Geelong
dist3 = 27
dir3 = SE
location3= Colac

Forrest, Victoria is a small rural township located in the Otway Ranges. At the 2006 census, Forrest and the surrounding area had a population of 170.Census 2006 AUS
id=SSC25607
name=Forrest (State Suburb)
accessdate=2007-07-27
quick=on]

History

The railway to the town was opened in 1891 and closed in 1957, as a branch line from Birregurra.cite journal
year = 1990
month = March
title = Tracks Across the State
author = Sid Brown
journal = Newsrail
publisher = Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)
pages = pages 71-76 ] It serviced the townships of Deans Marsh, Maroon, Barwon Downs, Yaugher and Forrest. At Forrest numerous tramways ran off into the nearby bush. These lines were used to bring the freshly cut timber to the rail head, and the associated sawmills of which there were 4 in Forrest and nearby Yaugher. All of these mills are now closed.

Originally called Yaugher, the name was changed to Forrest when the township was established. The Post Office opened as Yaugher on 27 July 1891 and was renamed Forrest a few weeks later on 15 October 1891. Citation
last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | accessdate = 2008-04-11 ]

The town football team was established in 1891, and is still going strong to this day, competing in the Colac & District Football League.Citation | last = Full Points Footy | title = Forrest | url = http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Forrest.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-25 ] . Consisting of a "pub", general store and 2 guesthouses, Forrest is the gateway to the Otway Ranges. The West Barwon river flows through the township and it is near the West Barwon reservoir, which services Geelong.

Today

During the past few years the town has begun to grow again with an influx of people seeking more affordable blocks of land not that far away from the coastal resorts of Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek, Grey River, Kennet River and Lorne. These can be reached either by a pleasant drive on a sealed main road or by ex-timber blue metal roads. Advice should be sought before motoring on the backroads to Kennet River, Wye River and Grey River.

Fauna to be viewed on these drives include King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas, Grey Swamp Wallabies, Echidnas. Koalas have in the past been released into the Otways.

References