17-739: Cape Otway is a cape and a bounded locality of the Colac Otway Shire in southern Victoria , Australia on the Great Ocean Road ; much of the area is enclosed in the Great Otway National Park . The cape marks the boundary between the Southern Ocean on the west and Bass Strait on the east. Cape Otway was originally inhabited by the Gadubanud people; evidence of their campsites is contained in
34-419: A livestock property at Moonlight Head in 1845 but his hut was burnt down and his shepherd supposedly killed by the resident Gadubanud people. More detailed exploration occurred in 1846 when a number of surveying expeditions entered the area with the view of placing a lighthouse upon Cape Otway. During these assignments, an Aboriginal man was attacked by colonists with stockwhips, while a surveyor's assistant by
51-703: Is a town in Victoria , Australia. The area of Beech Forest is largely used for potato farming. The town was named after the many myrtle beech trees of the area. Beech Forest Post Office opened on 10 May 1890 and closed in 1994. The town had a railway station on the Crowes railway line from 1902 until 1962. Much of the route of the old railway has been converted to the Old Beechy Rail Trail , via which cyclists and walkers can travel 45 kilometres (28 mi) between Beech Forest and Colac . The forest
68-424: Is primarily characterized by: Other significant tree species include: The understory is rich in ferns, including: Other plants found in the cool temperate rainforest include: Epiphytes, such as fork-ferns, filmy ferns, and orchids, are common in the humid microclimate created by the tree-fern layer. The diverse forest ecosystem supports various animal species: While specific bird species are not detailed in
85-511: The Victorian Heritage Register . A telegraph office opened in 1859. The post office opened on 1 September 1880 and closed in 1972. Eight ships were wrecked along the coast of Cape Otway: Marie (1851), Sacramento (1853), Schomberg (1855), Loch Ard (1878), Joseph H. Scammell (May 1891), Fiji (September 1891), and Casino in 1932. The first American vessel sunk during World War II , MS City of Rayville ,
102-698: The middens throughout the region. The traditional Gadubanud name for the cape is Bangurac . The cape was charted by the British when Lieutenant James Grant sailed through Bass Strait in HMS ; Lady Nelson in December 1800. Grant named it Cape Albany Otway after Captain William Albany Otway. This was later shortened to Cape Otway. The British started to colonise the region in 1837 when Joseph Gellibrand and George Hesse became lost in
119-544: The Easter Maar Nation. The earliest European settlers arrived in the district in the 1830s and settled around Lake Colac. The council is composed of seven councillors elected to represent an unsubdivided municipality. In order of election in 2020, they are: The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Colac Municipal Offices, which is also the location of
136-572: The Otways on an expedition. It was found that Hesse probably died of exposure, while Gellibrand was initially cared for by a local Aboriginal clan but later killed by members of another clan visiting from the Apollo Bay area. The ship Joanna was wrecked near the Cape in 1843, with several survivors making a difficult journey by foot along the coast back toward Geelong. Mr Kearnon attempted to establish
153-423: The available sources, the diverse forest ecosystem likely supports a variety of bird species typical of Victorian rainforests. The moist, forested environment provides habitat for numerous insect and invertebrate species, though specific examples are not provided in the available sources. The Beech Forest area is known for its beautiful waterfalls and scenic drives, which contribute to the overall biodiversity of
170-651: The council's administrative activities. It also provides customer services at both its administrative centre in Colac, and its service centre in Apollo Bay. The 2021 census, the shire had a population of 22,423 up from 20,972 in the 2016 census ^ - Territory divided with another LGA [REDACTED] Media related to Shire of Colac Otway at Wikimedia Commons 38°20′00″S 143°35′00″E / 38.33333°S 143.58333°E / -38.33333; 143.58333 Beech Forest, Victoria Beech Forest
187-541: The local government areas of City of Colac , Shire of Colac , part of the Shire of Otway and part of the Shire of Heytesbury . The Shire is governed and administered by the Colac Otway Shire Council ; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Colac, it also has a service centre located in Apollo Bay. The Shire is named after the combination of
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#1732776027144204-525: The name of James Conroy was killed by the Gadubanud. A reprisal force led by the surveyor and consisting of a well-armed militia of Barrabool men was organised by the district official Captain Foster Fyans . This force exterminated almost completely the remaining Gadubanud population of around ten people. Cape Otway Lighthouse was built on the point of the cape in 1848. The lighthouse is listed on
221-472: The names for the former City of Colac , and Shires of Colac and Otway , from which the majority of the LGA was formed. The name Colac is used for both the main urban settlement and the lake, Lake Colac , which are located in the north-centre of the LGA. Colac is also the most populous urban centre in the LGA with a population of almost 12,000. The name Otways is used for the major geographical features located in
238-517: The shoreline beneath the lighthouse. Commercial crayfishers use baited pots or traps throughout the reef system, with white floats on the surface marking their locations. Cape Otway has an oceanic climate ( Cfb ) with mild summers and cool damp winters, and only 38 clear days annually. Colac Otway Shire The Shire of Colac Otway is a local government area in the Barwon South West region of Victoria , Australia , located in
255-707: The south of the LGA, which are The Otways and Cape Otway . Cape Otway was originally named by Lieutenant James Grant who was the commander of the vessel, the Lady Nelson. He named it after Captain William Otway who was one of the commissioners of the Transport Board, on 7 December 1800. The Colac district is the traditional land for the Gulidjan people and was known as “Kolak” or “Kolakgnat” which means ‘belonging to sand’. The Gulidjan people are of
272-452: The south-western part of the state. It covers an area of 3,438 square kilometres (1,327 sq mi) and in June 2018 had a population of 21,503. It includes the towns of Apollo Bay , Beeac , Beech Forest , Birregurra , Colac , Cressy , Forrest , Johanna , Kennett River , Lavers Hill , Warrion and Wye River . It came into existence on 23 September 1994 through the amalgamation of
289-527: Was also sunk off the cape by a German mine. Following this, the Americans built a radar bunker on the cape in 1942; it is now open to the public. The hostile seas, where the Southern Ocean meets with Bass Strait, that surround Cape Otway are home to some of the world's most prized marine species, including crayfish and abalone . On calm days, as many as 20 abalone dive boats commonly operate along
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