Colac, Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ColacVictoria |
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The Princes Highway running through Colac
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 Colac
Location in Victoria
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| Population | 11,415 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3250 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 134.0 m (440 ft) | ||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Colac Otway Shire | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Polwarth | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Corangamite | ||||||||
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Colac is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is about 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. The town is located on the southern shore of Lake Colac. In 2011, about 11,415 people lived in Colac.
Contents
History of Colac
The first people to live in the Colac area were the Gulidjan people. They had lived in the grassy lands around the lakes for at least 30,000 years.
European settlers arrived in the area in 1837. Within three years, most of the Gulidjan lands were taken over by sheep farmers. The first European settler was Hugh Murray. In 1848, the town was officially named Lake Colac.
Town Features and Landmarks
The Lake Colac Post Office first opened on July 1, 1848. Its name was changed to Colac in 1854.
Colac Botanic Gardens
The Colac Botanic Gardens are located in Queen Street. They are right next to the shores of Lake Colac. These gardens were first planted in 1868. They were later redesigned in 1910 by William Guilfoyle. The gardens have many different kinds of plants. You can find old and rare trees there, along with a beautiful rose arbour.
Historic Speeches in Memorial Square
A special plaque in Memorial Square remembers two important speeches. These speeches were given on two nights in a row in Colac. They were about Australia joining Britain to fight in World War I.
On September 5, 1914, Andrew Fisher was the Leader of the Opposition. He famously said, "...Australia will stand by the mother country to our last man and our last shilling." The very next night, the Prime Minister, Joseph Cook, said, "...If the old country is at war, so are we." These speeches showed Australia's strong support for Britain.
Natural Features of Colac
Lake Colac is a major natural feature of the town. The lake completely dried up during a very dry period in 2008-2009. Luckily, it has now refilled with water.
Getting Around Colac
Colac has a history with different types of transport.
Railway Connections
The railway first reached Colac in 1877. By 1883, this line was extended all the way to Port Fairy. This town is in the south-west of Victoria.
Other railway lines also ran from Colac:
- The Irrewarra-Cressy line connected Colac to Ballarat. It operated between 1889 and 1953.
- A branch line to Alvie opened in 1923 and closed in 1954.
- A narrow gauge railway line started in Colac. It went south to small towns like Beech Forest and Crowes. This line opened in 1902 and closed in 1962.
Today, the local railway station is used by V/Line passenger trains. These trains run on the Warrnambool line. The train also stops at Camperdown and Terang.
Road Travel
Colac is located right on the Princes Highway. This is an important road that connects many towns and cities.
Events in Colac
Colac is famous for hosting the annual "Cliff Young Australian 6-day race". This event has been happening for over 20 years. It is a very long running and walking race. The race takes place in the Memorial Square, which is in the middle of Colac. People from all over the world come to compete in this unique event.
Industries in Colac
The main industries in Colac are based on farming. These include:
- Dairy farming
- Raising beef cattle
- Raising lamb
- Producing fine merino wool
Colac also has a large timber industry. Some of the companies in the area include Bulla Dairy Foods, CRF Colac Otway Pty Ltd, Fonterra (in Cororooke), and AKD Softwoods.
Media in Colac
Colac has its own local newspaper called The Colac Herald. It is published three times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
The town also has several local radio stations:
- 3CS on 1134 AM
- MIXX FM on 106.3 MHz
- Otway FM on 104.7 MHz and 99.1 MHz
Television services are received from Ballarat Lookout Hill. There is also a local signal booster on nearby Warrion hill. Some people can also get FM radio and TV signals directly from Melbourne, but the signal might not be very strong. Colac also has Austar Subscription Television. This service is delivered by satellite.
Sports in Colac
Colac is a town that loves sports!
Australian Rules Football
Colac has two Australian Rules football teams. They play in the Colac & District Football League. These teams are the Colac Imperials and South Colac. The Colac Tigers team plays in the Geelong Football League.
Horse Racing
Colac has a horse racing club called the Colac Turf Club. They hold about four race meetings each year. One of the biggest events is the Colac Cup meeting in February. There is also a picnic horse racing club, Colac St Patrick Picnic. They have one race meeting each year in March.
Golf
Golfers can play at the Colac Golf Club. It is located on Colac - Lavers Hill Road, in Elliminyt.
Swimming
Colac also has a swimming club. This club trains swimmers and helps athletes compete. They take part in competitions at regional, state, and even national levels.
Baseball
The town also has a baseball club called the Colac Braves. They play in the Geelong Baseball Association winter competition. They also compete in the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast.
Images for kids
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The main street of Colac
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Colac railway station
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Old railway line from Colac to Beech Forest, now a walking trail
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Colac War Memorial ANZAC Day 2017
