Welcome to Mortlake
On the Hamilton Highway, 50 kilometres (31 miles) north-east of Warrnambool, Mortlake is in the Moyne Shire local government area and the federal Division of Wannon. At the 2001 census, Mortlake had a population of 941, rising to 996 in 2006, and to 1,073 in 2011. Mortlake is situated at the foot of Mount Shadwell, formed 25,000 years ago. It is believed that it last erupted about 5,000 years ago. The large ejected rocks are called volcanic bombs. They are often egg shaped because they cooled as they were being thrown through the air. These bombs can contain olivine, a green crystal also known as peridot, the birthstone for August. Self-proclaimed as the Olivine capital of Australia, it is also known for its bluestone buildings, with several fine examples dating back to the 1850s visible from the Hamilton Highway. At the foot of Mt Shadwell, Mortlake is the centre of the rich agricultural and pastoral Western District of Victoria. There are many significant bluestone buildings in the town, reflecting an important phase in both Victoria’s and Mortlake’s development. The volcanic plains, stony rises and stone walls are unique, as are the scoria walls of Mt Shadwell and The Peak. The quarry at Mt Shadwell is one of the richest sources of olivine, a mineral known in its gem form as peridot, the birth stone for August. |
Mortlake History
The Mortlake area was probably first surveyed by Major Thomas Livingston Mitchell when he passed through the area in 1836-37. The town is based at the foot of a mount, as are many towns across the volcanic plains. The mount, Mount Shadwell, was named after his friend Major Thomas Henry Shadwell Clerke, and the nearby Hopkins River was named after Major John Paul Hopkins.
The first white settlers to arrive in Mortlake were probably David Fisher and his party in 1839, who set up a station which was left under the charge of Thomas Anderson. Establishment of Mortlake as a settlement occurred in the 1850s and 1860s. The Post Office opened 2 February 1859.
Many of the original bluestone buildings include those in the Shaw Street Bluestone Precinct, such a the former Mortlake courthouse and the former shire offices. The historic Mill (now privately owned) is located in Mill Street.
In the late 1870s, an area of swamp was drained and established as the Mortlake Botanical Gardens, which at its height covered nearly 50 acres (200,000 m2). As a present to the township in 1988 (Australia's Bicentennial) a new lake was constructed by the State Government. This lake is now known as Tea Tree Lake.
A railway line once connected Mortlake with Terang . The original idea for a railway line serving Mortlake was first tabled in the 1870s. The line had been completed, but not used until 1889, when the Mortlake Despatch ran a newspaper article questioning why the line was not yet in operation. The line was officially opened on 4 February, 1890. Soon after, additional facilities were provided, such as a windmill, 10 ton weighbridge and stockyards. The Koonendah Railway Station Post Office opened on 1 December, 1890 but closed in 1891. The line was closed to all traffic on 1 August, 1978.
The first white settlers to arrive in Mortlake were probably David Fisher and his party in 1839, who set up a station which was left under the charge of Thomas Anderson. Establishment of Mortlake as a settlement occurred in the 1850s and 1860s. The Post Office opened 2 February 1859.
Many of the original bluestone buildings include those in the Shaw Street Bluestone Precinct, such a the former Mortlake courthouse and the former shire offices. The historic Mill (now privately owned) is located in Mill Street.
In the late 1870s, an area of swamp was drained and established as the Mortlake Botanical Gardens, which at its height covered nearly 50 acres (200,000 m2). As a present to the township in 1988 (Australia's Bicentennial) a new lake was constructed by the State Government. This lake is now known as Tea Tree Lake.
A railway line once connected Mortlake with Terang . The original idea for a railway line serving Mortlake was first tabled in the 1870s. The line had been completed, but not used until 1889, when the Mortlake Despatch ran a newspaper article questioning why the line was not yet in operation. The line was officially opened on 4 February, 1890. Soon after, additional facilities were provided, such as a windmill, 10 ton weighbridge and stockyards. The Koonendah Railway Station Post Office opened on 1 December, 1890 but closed in 1891. The line was closed to all traffic on 1 August, 1978.