Koroit

Overview

Set on the edge of the extinct volcano Tower Hill, Koroit has a fascinating Irish charm. A large number of Irish immigrants made Koroit their home in the 1840s and ‘50s and this heritage is celebrated at the annual Koroit Irish Festival, held each April. One of the Shire’s largest employers, Murray Goulburn, is based in the town.

History

The name Koroit was given to the area around Tower Hill by Robert Hoddle, Chief Surveyor for Port Phillip, when surveying in the Port Fairy area around 1845. The exact meaning of the word is unclear, it is certainly from the language of the local aboriginal tribe Peek Whuurong but whether it means fire, or is the word for Tower Hill itself, or has yet another meaning is still a matter of debate.

Europeans were in the region from the late 1830’s and by the early 1840’s small pockets of land were under cultivation mainly by farmers from the Port Fairy area.  In 1843 William Rutledge, a Protestant from County Cavan, obtained from the crown 5120 acres at £1 per acre.

In 1855 the newly surveyed township was laid out with allotments for various church denominations, allotments for civic purposes, residential blocks, even a 20-acre site for public gardens.   The township developed quite rapidly and by the 1870’s Koroit was a flourishing town, with shops, banks, hotels, and indeed all the indications of a vibrant and thriving community.

Places of interest

Botanical Gardens

Tower Hill
State Game Reserve

Tower Hill National School
Historic Buildings
Lavender farm

Accommodation

A small yet comfortable range of accommodation is available in Koroit including bed and breakfast, self contained accommodation and a local hotel. For further information please contact The Port Fairy and Region Visitor Information Centre on 03 5568 2682.

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