The entrance to Koo-wee-rup with the distinctive clock tower

Koo-wee-rup
Former marshland now converted to market gardens
Koo-wee-rup is a small town 75 km south-east of Melbourne via the South Gippsland Highway and 45 metres above sea-level. Reclaimed from marshlands at the head of Westernport Bay it is increasingly a residential centre in a fertile district given over to asparagus production, market gardens and dairying. A well-known Potato Festival is held in March to celebrate the long-standing association of the town and the vegetable.

Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Bunurong Aborigines. It is from their language that the town's name derives - 'ku-wirup' allegedly meaning 'plenty of blackfish' or 'blackfish swimming'.

The first European to closely scrutinize the shoreline of Westernport was William Hovell in 1826-27. Hovell had accompanied Captain Wright on his abortive attempt to establish an agricultural and military settlement on Phillip Island and then at Corinella. At the time the area was largely covered by 100 000 acres of swampland, spanning from Sawtell's Inlet on Westernport Bay to Bunyip in the north-east (see entry on Pakenham). Impressed with the grassy flats at the southern edge of the marshes, Hovell attempted to head north to the ranges but was forced to abandon his efforts after 15 or 20 km as the marsh proved such an obstacle, permitting the party to travel only about 6 km in six hours. However, Hovell was so impressed with the quality of the country that he made another attempt to head north after returning to Westernport Bay but again failed to make much headway.

In 1840 Paul Edmund de Strzelecki passed along the northern shore of Westernport during his overland expedition from the Murrumbidgee River through Gippsland to Melbourne.

The first pastoral runs in the area were established in 1839. However, interest in the area was delimited by the swamp and the fact that a dense morass of peat lay beneath the surface of the water, formed by decomposed rushes and reeds. This rendered clearing extremely difficult.

Private landowners made attempts at establishing drains to clear the swamp in the 1860s and 1870s with little success. However, areas of the swampland were opened up for selection after 1865 and local landowners applied pressure on the government to undertake drainage works, adding the fillip that reclamation works would ultimately attract more rates. Consequently, 9000 acres of marginal swampland were auctioned off in 1875 with a drainage fee added as part of the purchase price. However, the Lands Department then did nothing to initiate works, so the local landowners formed a committee and undertook the drainage works themselves, utilising the aforesaid fees. 100 contract labourers were hired and the drains cut by hand under adverse conditions.

Market gardening near Koo-wee-rup

In the late 1880s the construction of the Great Southern Railway necessitated the crossing of the swamp which was completed by means of a series of pile bridges in 1889. Immediately thereafter work began on the construction of the main canal, which would eventually extend over 15 km, but these efforts were interrupted by massive floods in 1891. In 1893, with an economic depression under way, contract labour was suspended and the work handed over to unemployed married men who were contractually bound to accept and improve a 20-acre block of their own while also working on the general drainage scheme. Their families soon followed and primitive housing was gradually replaced by weatherboard structures.

However, more floods in 1893 proved the main drain inadequate and the nascent efforts at cultivation were despoiled. The settlers found the 20-acre blocks too small to render profitable and successfully agitated for larger allotments. They also managed to overturn legislation forbidding them to transfer their land to existing landowners. This allowed new, more experienced farmers from other districts into the area. However, changes were slow and disastrous floods in 1900 and 1934 led to further drainage works. Remaining areas of reclaimed swamp were divided up for soldier settlement schemes after World War I. Only a small amount of wetland remains today.

The settlement was known as Yallock Settlement until the railway arrived and the station was named Koo-wee-rup. The town developed into a service and railway centre to the surrounding agricultural and dairy farms.

A mill was established in 1941 to treat flax which was being grown in the area.

Things to see:  

Historical Society Museum
There is an historical society museum in Rossiter Rd which is open on Sundays.

Observation Tower
2 km south-east of town on the highway is an observation tower overlooking the remaining wetlands, the Bunyip River, Westernport and French Island.

Harewood Homestead
Harewood Homestead was built c.1857 by Scotsman William Lyall who purchased the 'Tooradin' estate in 1851. He imported sheep, hares, sambur deer, cattle, shetland ponies and horses, became a respected breeder of livestock and experimented with oyster cultivation.

Harewood was once the social centre of northern Westernport. It is built of handmade bricks with a stuccoed exterior and features a tiled verandah on three sides, decorative ceilings, a gabled central hall and views over Westernport Bay. Interestingly, the columns act as drainage pipes for water that was stored below the ground.

The house retains the original furniture, some of it exceptional. There is a fine collection of family memorabilia, including a library of books with items dating back to the early 18th century, and items of original clothing. Other artefacts relate to the Bunurong tribe who were the original occupants of the area.

The homestead is located on the highway, about 8 km west of Koo-wee-rup, just before the airfield and it is open weekends from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: (03) 5997 1033.

Warrook Cattle Farm
About 5 km east of town on the South Gippsland Highway is Warrook Cattle Farm. This is a working cattle farm which is very professionally organised for tourists. There is a guided tour of the farm, along with hayrides, sheep-shearing demonstrations, a luncheon room and facilities for weddings and conferences. They have tended to specialise in coach tours by Asian visitors but are equally able to cater to a domestic market, tel: (03) 5997 1321.

Bayles Fauna Park
8 km north-east, at Bayles, is Bayles Fauna Park which features a modest array of animals in enclosures, including deer, wombats, emus, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas etc. It is essentially a pleasant picnicking site with free barbecue facilities and a children's playground. The entry fee is minimal (about $1), tel: (03) 5997 7408. This area is also very popular with cyclists due to the flatness of the terrain.

Koo-wee-rup Asparagus Tours
The Koo-wee-rup area is the nation's largest producer of asparagus and groups can go on a guided coach tour of the region, taking in its history and a working asparagus farm where there is a run-through of the farm's operations along with cooking demonstrations and other activities. This service is available by appointment in the asparagus season, September to February, tel: (03) 5997 2202.

	Motels
	Koo Wee Motel 141 Station St Koo-wee-rup VIC 3981 Telephone: (03) 5997 1880 Facsimile: (03) 5997 1139 Rating: **1/2
	Hotels
	Koo Wee Rup Hotel Station St Koo-wee-rup VIC 3981 Telephone: (03) 5997 1414
	Royal Hotel Station St Koo-wee-rup VIC 3981 Telephone: (03) 5997 1414