The General Store at Coal Creek Heritage Village

Korumburra (including Kongwak)
Once an important coal mining town, now a small service centre for the surrounding dairy and cattle farms.
Korumburra, the name possibly comes from an Aboriginal word meaning 'blowfly', is 117 km south-east of Melbourne via the South Gippsland Highway and 227 metres above sea level. It is situated in a region originally known to Europeans as 'The Wild Cattle Run' due to the livestock which roamed free after the Corinella settlement was disbanded in 1828.

Korumburra is a dairy town and regional cattle-selling centre which partly relies on the tourism attracted by the Coal Creek Historical Village, a recreated village which is a tribute to the town's history as a coalmining centre.

There are conflicting versions of the town's development. Some sources claim that the existence of coal in the area was recognised as early as 1843, with mining rights held from around 1863, though not worked until the 1890s when a good seam was discovered and demand was stimulated by the construction of the Victorian rail system and its arrival in the area in the late 1880s or early 1890s. Another account claims that coal was first discovered in 1872 by the horse of an early settler while scratching at the ground with its hoof. It is said that the village was founded in 1880 after mining commenced at Coal Creek, although other sources suggest that the mining did not begin until after the Coal Creek Syndicate was formed in 1883. A large diamond drill arrived after a five-week journey in 1889 and operations peaked in 1894 when there were around 2000 miners working the seams. However, competition from Newcastle, dangerous areas in the coal seams and strikes led to a decline and the community began to turn to dairying, with a butter and cheese factory opening in 1900. In the 1970s the dairy factory became a world pioneer in the production of edible casein, the major group of milk proteins.

Things to see:  

Mining and trains are part of the attraction of Coal Creek Heritage Village

Coal Creek Heritage Village
The Coal Creek Heritage Village, on the South Gippsland Highway, consists of a collection of around fifty buildings which are either directly relocated (and restored) or faithfully copied from the mining towns of the area c.1890-1900. It is located upon the original site of the Coal Creek Mine, the first profitable black coal mine in Victoria, and situated upon thirty acres of land, which have been replanted with native flora in an attempt to recreate the rainforest environment of the original township. Some of its features include the poppet head, the mine manager's residence, the Premier Carriage Factory, a cordial factory, a railway station, a printer's shop with olden-style typesetting, a school and church, the mine tunnel, for a glimpse of life underground, original settler's cottages, including Edward Hobsen's wattle-and-daub hut (c.1842), milking displays, a mine explosion and horse-drawn vehicle rides. It is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Contact (03) 5655 1811.

Old Coalmining Sites
There are several ex-coalmining sites around Korumburra. 2 km east along the highway towards Leongatha is the six-hectare Ritchie Reserve which contains mine shafts and skip tracks in a setting of manna and blue gum and large tree ferns. Jimburra, 6 km south-west is an old coalmining town. So, too, between 1895 and 1915, was Outtrim, 10 km south-west of Korumburra. It still retains the old school, and some mullock heaps, brick walls and old tracks.

Other Activities
Nearby Cooks Hill provides an impressive view of the area, including Bass Strait and the Strzelecki Ranges. A cairn near the town's golf course commemorates Paul Strzelecki's exploration of the area, c.1840. The trip to Leongatha via Arawata, about 10 km north-east of Korumburra, is a pleasant drive.

Kongwak Hills
Kongwak Hills, established in 1989, produces riesling, semillon, chardonnay, pinot noir, shiraz and cabernet/merlot. The cellar door is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. weekends and public holidays. Picnic facilities are available. It is located on Kongwak Rd at Kongwak, to the south-east of Korumburra, en route to Wonthaggi, tel: (03) 5657 3267.

Paradise Enough Winery
Paradise Enough Winery, established in 1987, produces chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet, merlot and sparkling wine. The cellar door is open from midday to 5.00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays or by appointment. There are picnic, barbecue and children's play facilities. The winery is located 1.6 km off the Korumburra-Inverloch Rd in Stewart's Road, tel: (03) 5657 4241.

Weemala Alpacas and Exotic Animals
Weemala offers the opportunity to feed and cuddle the alpacas and other animals. There are sales of knitwear, wool and crafts. They are open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at 6750 Sth Gippsland Highway (15 minutes from Korumburra).

Gooseneck Pottery
A wide range of handthrown wood-fired stoneware pots are available from Gooseneck Pottery. Visitors can inspect the workshop, kiln and pots on weekends, public holidays and most weekdays from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5655 2405.

	Tourist Information
	Prom Country Visitor Informtion Centre South Gippsland Hwy Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: 1800 630 704
	Motels
	Coal Creek Motel South Gippsland Hwy P.O. Box 130 Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5655 1822 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Austral Hotel Bridge St Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5655 1021
	Commercial Hotel Commercial St Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5655 1024
	Caravan Parks
	Korumburra Tourist Park Bourke St P.O. Box 195 Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5655 2326 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Checko's A La Carte Restaurant Commercial St Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5658 1484
	Jo Jo's Restaurant Sanders St Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5658 1236
	Korumburra Motor Inn South Gippsland Hwy P.O. Box 130 Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5655 1822
	Rainbow Palace Restaurant Bridge St Korumburra VIC 3950 Telephone: (03) 5655 1670