Victoria For Everyone: Anglesea

Anglesea

An attractive resort town offering water sports, bushwalks along the Anglesea River.

Location: 110km south-west of Melbourne.

Brief history: the region was settled in the 1830s by squatters attracted to the freshwater creek and the grazing land which lay behind the sand dunes. William Roadknight brought sheep across from Tasmania in 1836 and settled near Ceres Bridge, west of Geelong. William and his son Thomas pioneered a track to the Cape Otway Lightstation in 1846. Anglesea developed as a convenient stopover for the Cobb & Co. mail coaches which plied the southern coastline in the 1850s on unformed tracks.

Origin of name: originally called Swampy Creek. The name was changed to Anglesea in about 1884, and is probably derived from the Welsh island of Anglesea.

View Larger Map

Things To See and Do

Wildlife

Anglesea Golf Course has quite a reputation for the unusual sight of kangaroos hopping around and grazing on its greens early in the morning. Tourists have become such a hazard for golfers that the club has had to post signs saying “absolutely no golf course entrance for kangaroo viewing”.

You don’t have to go onto the golf course see the kangaroos however, just drive around the outside and you will see plenty. There are often seen in Noble Street or Golf Links Road, or if you go to Bells Beach early, they are often seen there.

Anglesea’s main beach, a wide sandy expanse beside the Anglesea River, is a popular spot to laze in the sun.

Surrounding Area

The 3000 ha Angahook-Lorne State Park is excellent for bushwalking and picnics. It is considered one of the best forest reserves on the coast and has a number of excellent views over the ocean as well as opportunities to see a range of wildlife including kangaroos and possums.

Tours

Activities

The 35 km Surf Coast Walk that passes through Anglesea and can be followed in either direction, along the coast and inland up beside the Anglesea River.