Lara, Victoria facts for kids
Lara is a friendly town in Victoria, Australia. It is located about 18 kilometres north-east of the main city area of Geelong. Lara is situated inland from the Princes Freeway, which connects to Melbourne. It lies just 6 kilometres south of the interesting You Yangs mountains.
According to the 2021 census, Lara had a population of 19,014 people. The name "Lara" comes from a word in the Wadawurrung language. This word, laa, laarr, or larra, means "stone" or "building made of stone." Europeans first used this name for an area west of the You Yangs. Later, in 1874, it became the official name for the town.
Contents
Discovering Lara: A Town in Victoria
Lara's Rich History
Early Days and First People
For thousands of years before Europeans arrived, the Wadawurrung people lived in Lara and the surrounding lands. They were the traditional owners and caretakers of this country.
In 1824, explorers Hume and Hovell reached the Lara area. They thought they had found Westernport Bay.
How Lara Got Its Name
The area was first called Kennedy's Creek. When the railway line opened in 1857, the town and its station were known as Duck Ponds. New housing areas were planned, including one near what is now Lara Lake.
The Duck Ponds Post Office started operating on 1 March 1858. In 1864, the local government, called the Shire of Corio, set up its main office in Duck Ponds. People felt the name "Duck Ponds" was not grand enough for a Shire centre.
The council asked to rename the town "Grantham." This was after James Macpherson Grant, who was a government minister at the time. This request was turned down. In 1872, the town was renamed "Hovell's Creek." This new name was not popular with the local people. After two years, the government allowed the council to choose a new name. They could pick from "Corio," "Lara," or "Grantham." On 21 August 1874, the town was officially named Lara.
The railway station was renamed Lara in 1875. The Post Office, which had been Hovell's Creek since 1872, finally became Lara Post Office in 1884.
Growth and Challenges
By 1890, Lara's population had grown to a few hundred people. Schools and churches were built to serve the community. However, the town did not get a reliable water supply until 1947.
In January 1969, a very serious bushfire swept through Lara. It was a difficult time for the community, and many people were affected. This event reminds us of the importance of fire safety.
Lara on Screen and in Museums
Lara has even been featured in movies! Some scenes from the 1979 film Mad Max were filmed around Lara. The town also appeared in the ABC show We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year, where it was called "Dunt."
You can learn more about Lara's past at the Lara Museum and Historical Centre. It is located on the corner of Forest and Canterbury roads. The museum is in an old building, once the Lake Bank Hotel from the 1860s. A local businessman, Lino Bisinella, renovated it. He gave it to the community group that runs the museum in 2013.
Important Historical Places
Lara has several places that are important for their history. These "heritage listed sites" include:
- 605 Bacchus Marsh Road, Elcho Homestead
- Princes Highway, Hume and Hovell Monument
- 108 Windermere Road, Pirra Homestead
Who Lives in Lara?
According to the 2021 census, there were 19,014 people living in Lara.
- About 2.1% of the population identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Most people, 79.5%, were born in Australia. Other countries of birth included England (3.6%), India (1.9%), the Philippines (1.7%), and New Zealand (1.2%).
- English was the main language spoken at home by 80.2% of people. Other languages included Punjabi (1.4%), Tagalog (0.9%), Croatian (0.6%), and Italian (0.5%).
- When asked about religion, 41.5% said they had no religion. Catholic was the next most common response at 22.6%.
Lara's Natural Surroundings
Hovell's Creek flows through Lara. It eventually reaches Limeburners Bay, which is a small part of Corio Bay. The creek does not always have water because the soil is poor and the area is very dry. This region gets about 425 millimetres (17 inches) of rain each year. This is because the Otway Ranges create a rain shadow, blocking much of the rain.
The You Yangs are granite mountains located 4 kilometres north of Lara. They rise dramatically to 352 metres high. You can see these impressive peaks from most parts of Geelong.
Learning in Lara
Lara offers great education options for young people. There are three primary schools: St. Anthony's Primary School, Lara Lake Primary School, and Lara Primary School.
For older students, Lara Secondary College opened in 2004. It teaches students from Year 7 to Year 12 and offers the VCE. Lara is also home to Avalon College, a special school for international students. It helps them get ready for traditional schools.
What Lara Produces and Provides
On the edges of Lara, you'll find industrial parks and some important facilities, including correctional centres.
Lara is also home to St Laurence Park retirement village. This village is set on 42 acres of parkland near the town centre. It has many self-contained units and apartments for older residents. Another newer development is Lakeside Lara, a community for people over 55.
Ford Australia has a special testing ground near the You Yangs. Here, they test and evaluate new cars.
Getting Around Lara
Many Lara residents travel to work in Melbourne or Geelong. They use the regular V/Line passenger train services. These trains run on the Geelong line to Melbourne and Geelong from Lara railway station. Lara has become a popular place to live for people who work in Melbourne but want to be close to Geelong.
Since 2013, the Myki ticketing system has been used on the Geelong line. Lara is now a Myki Zone 2, 3 & 4 station. In 2015, more frequent train services were introduced, making it easier to travel between Geelong and Lara.
Local bus services in Lara are operated by CDC Geelong. These buses run on routes 10, 11, and 12, connecting to and from Lara station. Taxis are also available for transport.
Avalon Airport is close by, but there is no regular public transport directly from Lara station to the airport terminal.
Shops, Food, and Fun in Lara
Lara has many useful amenities for its residents. There is a post office, two banks, and several hairdressers and a barber. You can also find a travel agency, a butcher, and a greengrocer.
For groceries, Lara has a Woolworths supermarket (opened in 2016) and a Coles supermarket (opened in December 2014). There are also four real estate agencies and one newsagency. The Lara Library opened in 2011, offering books and resources to the community.
When it comes to food, Lara has lots of choices! You can find bakery/coffee shops, three Thai restaurants, two Indian restaurants, and three pizza shops. There are also three fish-and-chip shops, McDonald's, Subway, and Chinese and noodle shops. Two petrol stations serve the town, with one open 24/7.
For lodging and entertainment, Lara has a pub/hotel, a sports club, and a lawn bowls club.
Sports and Activities in Lara
Lara is a great place for sports! It has an Australian rules football team that plays in the Geelong Football League. There are also two soccer clubs: North Geelong Warriors FC and Lara United FC.
The Lara Giants Basketball club was started in 1992. It competes in the Geelong United Basketball association. Lara also has an 18-hole golf course and driving range, known as Lara Golf Club.
Protecting Lara's Environment
A recycling facility in Lara had some problems with managing waste materials. This created a risk, and the EPA Victoria stepped in. The Victorian state government provided $30 million to help. This big cleanup project started in September 2019 and finished in June 2022. Contractors removed large amounts of timber, soil, concrete, bricks, plastic, glass, and other materials. This effort made sure the area was safe again for everyone.
See Also
- Avalon Airport
- Avalon Raceway
- Serendip Sanctuary
