Tarwin Lower is a small, picturesque, country township with a population of approximately 340 people, nestled on the banks of The Tarwin River in South Gippsland.
Tarwin Lower and Surrounds…
Tarwin Lower is a small, picturesque, country township with a population of approximately 340 people, nestled on the banks of The Tarwin River in South Gippsland. It lies 167 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, 6 kilometres east of the popular, coastal, holiday town of Venus Bay, 22 kilometres north of Walkerville and is centrally located between Wilsons Promontory National Park and Phillip Island.
Tarwin Lower was first settled in the 1840’s and, as the Tarwin River was once the life blood of this humble town, it relied upon the ketch ‘Ripple’ to deliver stores, carry mail, and take the town’s supply orders. Over the years there have been floods, fire and much hard work and adversity, but today the area boasts rich grazing and farming land with strong dairying and pastoral industries.
The road into town hugs the ever-changing river and today there are several fishing and viewing platforms built on the river’s edge. The town centre stretches along the River Drive boasting a petrol station, a mechanics shop, a post office, a gallery featuring local talent, an IGA, a coffee shop, a Cape View Mitre 10 hardware store and a craft shop, filled with impressive, locally handmade bits and bobs.
Tarwin Lower also has a rustic pub, with a spacious, beautiful timber deck overlooking the river, while the impressive motel is conveniently located nearby. There is also a primary school, a church, a community health centre, and a hall. Beside the hall is usually where an ever-growing market is hosted numerous times a year, bringing many visitors to the town.
At the north-western edge of Tarwin Lower you will find the jetty along with a beautiful river-front picnic area, including a 35-metre-long picnic table made from a single length of wood. Beginning at the jetty car park is a wide track stretching between the meandering river and the road leading into Venus Bay, ideal for the morning or evening jogs, relaxing walks, or bicycle rides.
The community neighbouring Tarwin Lower is Middle Tarwin, which consists largely of milking or beef farms, mostly worked for many years by family generations. A prominent vegetable producing estate has also been established in the last decade. It is a quiet, serene part of the world among beautiful flora and fauna and floods in parts during wet, winter months. It is home to the disappearance of the famous ‘Lady of The Swamp’, which is a local mystery still unresolved to this day. Our property backs onto this once mysterious woman’s land. I’ve read her story and would love to know the truth behind her misfortune. Middle Tarwin also has tennis courts beside a multi-purpose hall where each year a Christmas party and other events take place for locals to socialise and enjoy.
There is so much to see and do in this general area besides the obvious surf, sun, and sand. Visitors are also enticed to this corner of the world by the Bald Hills Wetlands, where migrating birds can be observed at dusk. Abundant programs and activities for all ages are offered through local clubs, the Venus Bay Community Centre, which is also home to the popular Community Recycling Op Shop, and Tarwin Lower Health Centre, just to name a few.
The Tarwin Lower Footy Club, known as The Tarwin Sharks, is part of the local Alberton Football League and together with the Netball Club, is a major part of the town. Besides being well organised and competitive, the club strongly values its family orientation. It also continues to be the largest social meeting point of the town and has proudly been responsible for forming life-long friendships and marriages.
Cycling, tennis, bowls, and especially bush walking are also typically popular in this endearing area where many beautiful, native animals can be spotted. There’s fantastic river, surf, or boat fishing too and fishing competitions are usually organised on a regular basis.
Venus Bay has a population of approximately 950 people and increases into the thousands over the summer holiday period. Its surf beach, although a little dangerous, is stunning with five entrances to choose from along the Bass Strait Coast. Beach one is patrolled during the summer holidays by the Venus Bay Life Saving Club and preferred by visiting families. Venus Bay’s beachy shopping strip offers a variety of delicious cuisine among a general store, a chemist, a surf shop, a colourful clothing store and two real estate agencies. The surrounding vegetation of Anderson Inlet is covered with grazing kangaroos at dawn and dusk, proving a magnificent sight.
Walkerville has few services, however, is popular with holiday makers, due to its peaceful environment, safe swimming beaches and scenic fishing spots. It is also known for its limestone cliffs, which were actively mined until 1926, supplying material for Melbourne’s building industry.
Ten kilometres south-west of Walkerville is Cape Liptrap, where a ten-metre-high, octagonal shaped lighthouse stands, built in 1951 of cast concrete. I’ve attended a wedding ceremony there and can verify it a stunning location.
To sum it up, Tarwin Lower and surrounds is a beautiful area with a welcoming, approachable community, abundant wildlife, and superb beaches. We have the best of both ‘country and sea’, only minutes away from each other and we’re less than a two-hour drive from Melbourne.
In the fifteen years my husband and I have lived here, I have often said, “We live at the rear end of the world,” but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Please note: Of course, due to Covid-19 restrictions organised activities are presently deferred.
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