Kennett River, Victoria

This article is about the town. For the river, see Kennet River (Victoria).
Kennett River
Victoria

Koala Cove Cafe
Kennett River
Coordinates 38°40′0″S 143°51′0″E / 38.66667°S 143.85000°E / -38.66667; 143.85000Coordinates: 38°40′0″S 143°51′0″E / 38.66667°S 143.85000°E / -38.66667; 143.85000
Postcode(s) 3234
Location
LGA(s) Colac Otway Shire
State electorate(s) Polwarth
Federal Division(s) Corangamite
Localities around Kennett River:
Barramunga Wye River Wye River
Barramunga Kennett River Bass Strait
Mount Sabine Wongarra Grey River

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

Situated 174 kilometres (108 mi) west of Melbourne, on the Otway Coast part of the scenic Great Ocean Road, Kennett River is a popular tourist destination 27 kilometres (17 mi) 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 was, with his cousins the MacReas, looking for an area suited to farming and fishing, and chose this site, west of the MacRea's chosen site, which he named The Kennet. His cousins settled on the other side of the creek at a site named Wye River. Kennett River Post Office opened on 15 December 1938 and closed in about 1984.[2]

Tourism

The area is known for scenic coastal views, the Great Otway National Park, and surfing. Kennett River is also one of the best places in Australia to see koalas in the wild. Turn into Grey River Road, off the Great Ocean Road, and along the first two kilometres of the road you will be unlucky not to spot koalas in the eucalypts.[3]

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

References

  1. Bird, Eric (12 October 2006). "Place Names on the Coast of Victoria". The Australian National Placename Survey (ANPS). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2011.
  2. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  3. "Koalas at Kennett River". Tourism Victoria. Retrieved 26 July 2011.

Media related to Kennett River, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons


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