McLoughlins Beach, Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McLoughlins BeachVictoria |
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 McLoughlins Beach
Location in Shire of Wellington
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| Population | 121 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3874 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Wellington | ||||||||
| County | Buln Buln | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gippsland East | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Gippsland | ||||||||
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McLoughlins Beach is a small, quiet town in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. In 2021, about 121 people lived there. It's a peaceful spot known for its beautiful coastline and waterways.
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History of McLoughlins Beach
The first people to live in this area were the Kurnai Aboriginal people. A group within the Kurnai, called the Brataulung people, lived along these forests and coasts for thousands of years. They used the rivers and sea to find fish and shellfish for food. McLoughlins Beach likely has important Aboriginal history, but more studies are needed to learn about it.
European settlers started developing the area in the early 1920s. This is when the first jetty, a long pier for boats, was built. McLoughlins Beach was a busy fishing village back then. That first jetty was used until the 1960s. The jetty you see today was built in 1967. A special footbridge, which lets you walk to Ninety Mile Beach, was added in 1972.
Fun Things to Do at McLoughlins Beach
McLoughlins Beach is a great place for fishing! You can fish in the calm inlet, out in the open sea, or from the surf along the beach. To help with fishing, there's a boat ramp, a jetty, and that long footbridge.
Some of the fish you might catch include:
- gummy shark
- snapper
- flathead
- Silver trevally
Even though some people swim and surf here in summer, local experts don't usually recommend swimming at Ninety Mile Beach in this spot. If you want a safer place for swimming with your family, nearby Woodside Beach has surf lifesavers during the summer months.
There are also some nice walks:
- A 1-kilometre walk along the jetty and boardwalk.
- A longer 20-kilometre walk from McLoughlins Point all the way to Reeves Beach and back.
The town also has useful facilities like a picnic area, a playground for kids, public toilets, a post box, and a public telephone.
Nature and Wildlife Around McLoughlins Beach
McLoughlins Beach is located near the western end of the famous Ninety Mile Beach. The town sits on a small hill, surrounded by waterways and muddy areas.
Right next to the town is the Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park. This huge park covers about 29,800 hectares (that's about 73,600 acres!). It's a very important place for many animals, especially birds.
Some of the special and rare animals found in this park include:
- The little tern, a small seabird.
- The white-bellied sea eagle, a large bird of prey.
- Lewin's rail, a shy bird that lives in wetlands.
- The ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus), a parrot that lives on the ground.
- The swamp skink (Egernia coventryi), a type of lizard.
- The great egret, a large white wading bird.
Images for kids
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Footbridge to 90 Mile Beach at McLoughlins Beach
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View from footbridge at McLoughlins Beach
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Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park sign with McLoughlins Beach Jetty
