Kennett River, Victoria Explained

Type:town
Kennett River
State:vic
Use Lga Map:yes
Coordinates:-38.6667°N 143.85°W
Pop:74
Postcode:3234
Dist1:174
Dir1:SW
Location1:Melbourne
Dist2:100
Dir2:SW
Location2:Geelong
Dist3:44
Dir3:SE
Location3:Colac
Dist4:27
Dir4:SW
Location4:Lorne
Lga:Colac Otway Shire
Stategov:Polwarth
Fedgov:Corangamite
Near-N:Wye River
Near-Ne:Wye River
Near-E:Bass Strait
Near-Se:Grey River
Near-S:Wongarra
Near-Sw:Mount Sabine
Near-W:Barramunga
Near-Nw:Barramunga

Kennett River is a small seaside town in Victoria, Australia.

Situated 174km (108miles) west of Melbourne, on the Otway Coast portion of the scenic Great Ocean Road, Kennett River is a popular tourist destination 27km (17miles) from the resort town of Lorne, Victoria.

History

The river running through the town was named by surveyor George Smythe after the River Kennet in Berkshire, England.[1]

In 1882, Alex MacLennan and his cousins, the MacReas, were looking for an area suited to farming and fishing. MacLennan chose this site, which he named The Kennet. His cousins settled on the other side of the creek at a site named Wye River.[2]

Kennett River Post Office opened on 15 December 1938 and closed in about 1984.[3]

Tourism

The area is known for scenic coastal views, whale watching, the Great Otway National Park, and surfing.[4] Although koala populations have declined across the country,[5] Kennett River is still considered one of the best places in Australia to see them in the wild.[6] [7] [8] The Victoria State Government has implemented plans in the Cape Otway area to manage the koala population and improve their health,[9] though some of the actions taken have been controversial.[10]

The area is also home to a variety of birds, including cockatoos, parrots, rosellas, owls, and kookaburras,[11] and to glow-worms.[12]

Kennett River has a Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) that was established in 1963.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bird . Eric . 12 October 2006 . Place Names on the Coast of Victoria . The Australian National Placename Survey (ANPS) . https://web.archive.org/web/20110218121208/http://www.anps.org.au/documents/VIC_coastal.pdf . 18 February 2011 . dead .
  2. Web site: Koala Spotting and Surfing at Kennett River. Melbourne Tours. en-AU. 2019-05-17.
  3. Web site: Phoenix Auctions History . Post Office List . 20 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Kennett River. www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au. en-AU. 2019-05-17.
  5. Web site: A report claims koalas are 'functionally extinct' – but what does that mean?. Adams-Hosking. Christine. The Conversation. en. 2019-05-17.
  6. Web site: Kennett River koalas, Attraction, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia. Visit Victoria. en. 2019-05-17.
  7. Web site: Wildlife of the Otway Coast Hamlets Great Ocean Road Australia. www.visitotways.com. en-AU. 2019-05-17.
  8. Web site: 7 of the best places... to see koalas. Radio Times. en. 2019-05-17.
  9. Web site: Koalas at Cape Otway. Wildlife. 2019-05-08. Wildlife. en. 2019-05-17.
  10. News: Victoria's Otway koalas: 'If we don't intervene, they will die a painful death'. Milman. Oliver. 2015-09-28. The Guardian. 2019-05-17. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  11. Web site: Wildlife of the Otway Coast Hamlets Great Ocean Road Australia. www.visitotways.com. en-AU. 2019-05-17.
  12. Web site: Kennett River travel Victoria, Australia. Lonely Planet. en. 2019-05-17.
  13. Book: Best, Alleyn. 50 years and more: A history of Surf Life Saving Victoria. Surf Life Saving Victoria A.C.N.. 2002. St. Kilda, Victoria. 127.

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