Gippsland Lakes Favorites

Favorite thing: Long ago, ocean levels rose after the last ice age, forming Bass Strait. Prevailing winds and ocean currents then deposited sand which formed sand spits, islands and dunes along low-lying areas of the eastern coast of Victoria. Eventually these joined to form the 90 mile beach as a barrier to Bass Strait. Meanwhile, the rivers bringing water, sand and silt from the inland ranges divided the area into lakes and swamps. The lakes now cover an area of about 350 sq km.

White settlement of the area began after 1840, followed in the 1850s by gold discoveries. With development the need for a port increased – roads were nearly non-existent. Work began in 1869 on a permanent entrance to the lakes, continuing for twenty years until a large storm completed the task in 1889, scouring out the half-completed entrance near the village of Lakes Entrance. Commercial shipping then operated through the lakes to towns in the area until 1935, when roads were adequately developed, but the entrance still is maintained by a dredge and is used by the fishing fleet.