Winchelsea
Quick facts
- Population approximately 1000
- 112 kilometres south west of Melbourne
- Rural town on the banks of the Barwon River
- Home of historic Barwon Park Historic Homestead
Winchelsea is a pleasant rural town on the banks of the picturesque Barwon River and an excellent stop off point on the Princes Highway between Geelong and Warrnambool.
The town is steeped in history. The first Europeans to reside in the area were squatters who established grazing runs here in the mid 1830s and the town then developed as a key stop over on the coaching route between Geelong and Warrnambool. Historic buildings within the town include the Barwon Hotel established in 1842 and town church built in 1846. The most famous historic building is Barwon Park, one of Australia's grandest mansions, built between 1869 and 1871 for Thomas and Elizabeth Austin.
Thomas Austin built the 42 room Barwon Park after he entertained the Duke of Edinburgh in 1867 and his wife Elizabeth, embarrassed by the original house, decided she wanted the biggest mansion in the Western Districts. Thomas died just a few months after the completion of Barwon Park in 1871 and Elizabeth spent the next 40 years alone and gave much of her wealth away, establishing charitable institutions such as Melbourne’s Austin Hospital. Thomas is most famous for importing sheep breeds and rabbits from England in 1859. His rabbits are allegedly the ones that proceeded to spread across the continent and out-populate humans.
Today the town also offers a range of antique shops and tearooms and beautiful picnic grounds alongside the Barwon River.
Activities and attractions
- Explore the Barwon Park Historic Homestead (1869), classified by the National Trust and in its original condition
- Enjoy a picnic beside the beautiful Barwon River
- Explore Winchelsea's historic buildings on the Winchelsea Heritage Trail. Maps and brochures are available from the Winchelsea Visitor Information Centre.
- Browse local arts, crafts and antiques shops many of which are located in historic buildings
- Stop for Devonshire tea at the beautiful Winchelsea Shire Tearooms
- Visit local gardens.
Events
- Winchelsea Festival – November
How to get there
Located 112 kilometres south west of Melbourne on the Princes Highway.
