Lismore
Small service centre in rural area
Lismore is a small town located in an agricultural-pastoral area 165 km west of Melbourne on the Hamilton Highway.

European settlement began when a pastoralist named John Brown broke an axle near a small chain of ponds in 1840. He paused to have a look about the area and decided to settle. The area was initially known as Brown's Water Hole. In 1853, as a settlement began to develop, it was renamed Lismore after a town in Ireland. Brown's estate was later subdivided for soldier resettlement. The site of his homestead is now marked by a bluestone cairn.

Things to see:  

Lake Tooliorook
If you follow the Camperdown Rd south-west of Lismore for 9 km, there is a turnoff on the right to Lake Tooliorook where fishing, water sports and a large variety of wetland birdlife can be found.

Gnarpurt Chapel and Woolshed
If you head south along the Gnarpurt Rd for 8 km the road bends to the left then bends to the right. However, as it bends to the right another road (the Lower Darlington Rd) proceeds straight ahead. If, at this junction, you look to the left you can see a pleasant and simple little Gothic Revival bluestone chapel (1867) built by Scotsman Adam Swanston Robertson for the worship of his employees. The church was based on Robertson's memories of Scottish country churches and features a stone Celtic rose carved in the stonework above the door. Prior to its construction lay preacher Robertson conducted services in a specially constructed chapel room with high vaulted ceilings and massive beams in his homestead (which is still standing).

If you proceed along the Lower Darlington Rd for about 300 metres, you can see the large woolshed Robertson built for his pastoral property which he established in 1841. It once had 20 stands and processed 15 000 merino sheep. Like Brown's estate, Gnarpurt was later subdivided for soldier settlement.

	Hotels
	Lismore Hotel High St Lismore VIC 3324 Telephone: (03) 5596 2030
	Caravan Parks
	Brown Water Holes Caravan Park Hamilton Hwy P.O. Box 4 Lismore VIC 3324 Telephone: (03) 5596 2042 Rating: **