Mortlake

Overview

At the foot of Mt Shadwell, Mortlake is in the centre of the rich agricultural and pastoral Western District of Victoria. It is the focal point of a large farming community, has a secondary college, racecourse and industrial estate. Mt Shadwell quarry is one of the world’s richest sources of olivine. The town hosts the Mortlake Buskers Festival in February each year.

History

The aboriginal people living in the area that was to become the town of Mortlake lived a healthy lifestyle as water food and shelter was abundant.

It was around 1839 when the first European settlers arrived in the area. The first large grazing run to be established was the Mount Shadwell run and  from that time onward other men arrived in the district taking up pastoral licenses. In 1853 the township of Mortlake was surveyed and the first sale of land in the ‘township’ was held in Geelong.   It took a little time for the town to develop and it is thought that the first stone store was built around 1856. By the 1890s Mortlake’s population was around 700 and  there were all the services expected of a thriving small town, post office, churches, schools, even a temperance hall.

Places of interest

Mount Shadwell

Racecourse

Tea Tree Lake Gardens
Temperance Hall (1873)
Andrew’s Uniting Church (1862)
St James Anglican Church (1864)
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church (1867)
Bluestone cottages (1860)
Willow Cottage
Old Butter Factory (1894)
Hexham Hotel

Accommodation

The small town of Mortlake offers a selection of comfortable accommodation including two hotels and a bed and breakfast. For further information please contact The Port Fairy and Region Visitor Information Centre on 03 5568 2682.

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