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About Inverleigh |
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The Historic Township of Inverleigh, Victoria, AustraliaINVERLEIGH (interpreted as Inver/against the Leigh or mouth of the Leigh) was formally proclaimed in 1854. Prior to this, the settlement was known as Lawsons after William Lawson who owned and operated a blacksmith shop and hotel at the now named Lawson's Park from 1843.
Bird's eye view of Inverleigh (click picture to enlarge) Less than half an hour's drive along the Hamilton Highway from Geelong, Inverleigh is one of the Golden Plains' hidden beauty spots. The historic town next to the Leigh River was predicted by the Geelong Advertiser in 1912 to become a favourite resort with tourists and holidaymakers. While it never attained that goal in the near term, recent developments look set to make Inverleigh a popular tourist stop. One could possibly imagine mid 1850’s instructions to a traveller unfamiliar with the area on how to get to Inverleigh. The instructions might have gone something like this - "Follow the dray track from the settlement of Geelong west over Captain Fyan’s Ford near the junction of the Moorabool and Barwon Rivers. Continue west along the Barwon River flats for about 17 miles at which point you will be in the vicinity of the Leigh River junction. The track you follow from Fyan’s Ford is called the Lower Leigh Road and passes through Stonehaven, and Murgheboluc (thought to be Aboriginal for place of "many frogs") at Austin’s. You know your getting close when you see the Mia-Mia’s (Aboriginal huts) at Native Hut Creek. Just upstream from the junction along the Leigh (or Yarrowee as it’s called by the Aboriginals) you’ll find the Horseshoe Inn. A "smithy" by the name of Lawson used to run it back in the 40’s and early 50’s, not sure if he still does though. Good luck, and here’s hoping these instructions see you fair better than those lawyers, Gellibrand and Hesse from Derwent Company about 20 year ago. Intending to stop at Inverleigh, they appear to have continued following the Barwon River south, got lost, and haven’t been seen since." The Lower Leigh Road is now known as the Hamilton Highway and follows pretty much the same route as the old horse, dray and bullock team track. The township of Inverleigh began to flourish from the mid 1850’s following the breakup of the large land holdings when the squatters departed. As the number of surrounding farms and the township population grew, Inverleigh became quite self sufficient in services. In its heyday, at one time or other the township contained not only butchers, bakers and a candlestick maker, but a doctor, undertaker and cemetery, bootmaker, blacksmiths, general stores, carriers, brickmakers, garages, hotel, railway station, churches, school, confectionary store, grain and produce store, wool shop, greengrocer, stock agent, tin smith, meeting halls, roads, police station, fire brigade and recreation facilities (including a race track on Fuller Brothers property). Although many of these services have ceased to be required, Inverleigh still maintains its original shape and pioneering ambience, with many of the original buildings and ancient majestic river red gums and a few old outstanding spotted gum specimens still standing. The following map shows where the historic township of Inverleigh is located.
The following is a town map (courtesy of Golden Plains Tourism Association) showing where the significant old buildings, galleries and accommodation are located.
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