The inlet at Mallacoota

Mallacoota (including Gabo Island and Gipsy Point)
Peaceful and attractive coastal holiday settlement
Located 521 km east of Melbourne, Mallacoota (Aboriginal word which either means 'the place of many waters', 'place of meeting' or 'good water') is a typical quiet seaside holiday village which seems to have been purpose-built for families and fishermen. According to the sign on the outskirts of town it is 'Victoria's Best Kept Secret' but, in fairness to the sign, it is a village designed for campers and caravan holiday makers - and, in summer, there doesn't seem to be any secret about the place. Virtually the entire foreshore of the town is given over to campers.

The area was first 'settled' in the 1830s when both Ben Boyd and the Imlay Brothers, who were whaling along the coast from southern NSW to northern Victoria, established the Mallacoota Inlet as their major station south of Twofold Bay.

By the early 1840s Captain John Stephenson, who had captained whaling ships along the coast, had been granted the first pastoral run in the district. He is still remembered at Captain Stephenson's Point at the eastern end of Allan Drive. The point area was the location of a large Aboriginal shell midden which, when excavated, revealed stone and bone tools, deep shell deposits and animal remains. Dating from recent prehistory it is considered one of the richest coastal archaeological sites on the Victorian coastline.

By the 1880s settlers had moved into the area and commercial fishing had begun with boats being moored in Mallacoota Inlet. At this time it was common for fishing boats from further down to coast to fish the inlet for salmon and bream which was shipped around the coast to Melbourne.

This industry was disrupted in 1894 when gold was discovered in the district. The Spotted Dog Mine (reputedly named after a spotted dog was killed by a falling tree) was operational for three years.

One of the most interesting developments in the town's history was the arrival of the balladist and journalist E. J. Brady who established a writers and artists camp at Captain's Point in 1909. Brady continued to live in the area until his death in 1952. During that time he was visited by Henry Lawson (who came to the area to recover from alcoholism in early 1910), Katherine Susannah Prichard and the playwright Louis Esson. All wrote passionately and romantically about Mallacoota and the lakes although none compare to Brady¹s description of the local sunset:

'I have never seen anything in Australia to equal some sunsets that have held me spellbound in Mallacoota. Picture a perfectly still sheet of water, three or four miles in width, with a number of little islets clustered in one corner, covered by green coast-currant and honeysuckle, with billowing ranges at the opposite margin; the Pacific Ocean spreading its blue floors eastward, and purple hills and peaks over in the west, where the sun is radiating bands of colour towards the zenith, green, blue, vermilion, and a hundred intermediate shades of rose and yellow!'

Today the town's industries are tourism and abalone fishing although there are some contradictions. On the outskirts of town are light industries like Mallacoota Concrete and a number boat manufacturers. The upper reaches of the inlet are characterised by mooring facilities and closer to the town there are house boats, a fisherman¹s wharf, cruisers, mooring points along the foreshore, and holiday caravans down to the shoreline.

Part of the appeal of Mallacoota is that it sprawls. There is no sense that everyone is clinging to a tiny area. This may have something to do with its combination of two lakes - the Top Lake and Bottom Lake - and its inlets, cliffs, and beaches.

The Great Southern Ocean Festival is a major event held each year in April.

Things to see:  

The jetties at Mallacoota

Croajingalong National Park
One of the district¹s great attractions is the Croajingalong National Park, a superb wilderness region which claims to be the home to more than 70 native orchards and wildflower species as well as at least 250 different species of birds. The Croajingalong stretches along more than 100 km of coastline and is home to Eastern Grey kangaroos, possums, tree goannas, sea eagles, lyrebirds, kingfishers and the rare Ground Parrot.

It is possible to access the Thurra and Mueller River Camping Areas from Cann River. The park can also be enjoyed from Wingan Inlet. Genoa Peak affords excellent views over the coast and the Coopracambra hinterland. The Double Creek Nature Trail provides a boardwalk through rainforest and mixed forest.

The park is accessible by boat and vehicle although some areas can only be reached on foot. There are are a number of sheets and brochures available on Croajingalong National Park with detailed maps and descriptions of the fauna and flora which can be seen by walkers through the park. Contact either the Information Centre at Cann River (03) 5158 6351 or the Park Office at Genoa Road, Mallacoota, tel: (03) 5158 0263.

Gipsy Point
Gipsy Point is a quite magical little retreat on a water. Named after the schooner Gipsy which used to moor there, it is an ideal 'get away from it all' location with a boat ramp and a landing, a pub and a lodge in a setting of great peacefulness and beauty. It would only have a couple of dozen houses nestled in on the shore and is surrounded by forest which comes down to the edges of the Mallacoota Inlet. It has a general feeling of sleepiness. Its isolation hints at it being an upmarket alternative to Mallacoota.

Gabo Island
Off the coast directly east of Mallacoota is Gabo Island a granite outcrop approximately 2.5 km long which, because of its lighthouse, has become an important reference point on the Australian east coast. The lighthouse was completed in 1862 as a result of the shipwreck of the Monumental City which went down with the loss of 33 lives. It is commonly referred to in weather reports and is an identifiable point in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race.

Rankin's Hire Cruisers
An easy way to explore the waterways is to take a cruise or hire a boat from Rankin's Hire Cruisers - (03) 5158 0555.

	Motels
	Mallacoota Hotel/Motel 51 Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0455 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0453 Rating: **1/2
	Mallacoota Motor Inn Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0544 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0980 Rating: ***1/2
	Silver Bream Motel & Self Contained Flats Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0305 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0322 Rating: ***1/2
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Ballinosollis Bed & Breakfast 7 Scenic Court Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0031
	Gypsy Point Lodge 35 McDonald St Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 8205 Facsimile: (03) 5158 8225 Rating: ****
	Karbeethong Lodge 16 Schnapper Point Dve Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0411 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0081
	Apartments
	Mallacoota Court Units 90 Bastion Point Rd Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0508 Rating: ****
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Mareeba Lodge Bed & Breakfast 59 Mirrabooka Rd Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0378 Rating: ***1/2
	The Waves Oasis Luxury S.C. Units (B & B) 36 Vista Dve Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0995
	Apartments
	Adobe Mudbrick Flats 17 Karbeethong Ave P.O. Box 53 Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0329 or 0409 580 329 Rating: ***1/2
	Ballymena Holiday Flats 14 Bruce St Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0258 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0607 Rating: ***1/2
	Banksia Mudbrick Flats 11 Bansia Pde Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0044
	Bruce's Flats by the Water Cnr Dorron Ave & Fairhaven Dve P.O. Box 19 Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0654
	Gowings Mallacoota Holiday Apartments 8 Dorron Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0401 Rating: ***
	Gypsy Point Luxury Lakeside Apartments Gypsy Point Rd Gypsy Point, 3891 Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 8200, 1800 688 200 Facsimile: (03) 5158 8308 Rating: *****
	Harbour Lights Flats 88 Betka Rd Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0246 Rating: ***
	Lakeside of Mallacoota 59 Maurice St Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0233 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0233 Rating: ****
	Lakeview Flats Dorron Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0233
	Mallacoota Log Cabins Rasmus Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0233 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0233 Rating: ***
	Melaleuca Grove Flats Cnr Mirrabooka & Genoa Rds Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0407 Rating: ****
	Polehouse Mudbrick Units 3 Scenic Crt Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0771
	Holiday Homes & Units
	Accommodation Booking Service Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0645 or 0409 821 071
	Bastion Beach Units Bastion Point Rd Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0427
	Dales at Bruce St 22 Bruce St Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0258
	Grevillea Grove Units 32 Bruce St Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0223 Facsimile: (03) 5158 0065 Rating: ***
	Ian Ennis & Company Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0266
	Mallacoota Real Estate Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0600
	Mallamaurice Units 2 Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0432 Rating: ***
	Mudshake Unit 28 Karbeethong Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0651
	Cottages & Cabins
	Blue Waters Holiday Cottages Karbeethong Ave P.O. Box 143 Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0261 Rating: ***1/2
	Log Cabins 62 Rasmus Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0233 Rating: ***
	Caravan Parks
	Mallacoota Foreshore Camp Park Allan Dve Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0300
	A Wangralea Caravan Park 78 Betka Rd Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0222 Rating: ***1/2
	Beachcomber Caravan Park & Log Cabins Betka Rd Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0233 Rating: ***1/2
	Mallacoota¹s Shady Gully Caravan Park Genoa Rd P.O. Box 6 Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0362 Rating: ***1/2
	Houseboats
	Mallacoota House Boats 12 Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0775
	Restaurants
	Gipsy Point Lodge McDonald St Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 8205
	Mallacoota Golf & Country Club Kitchen Bastion Point Rd Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0277
	Mallacoota Hotel/Motel 51-55 Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0455
	Mallacoota Motor Inn Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0455
	Tide Restaurant & Cocktail Bar 66 Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0100
	Cafés
	Cafe @ 54 54 Maurice Ave Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0646
	Croajingolong Cafe Shop 3/14 Allan Dve Mallacoota VIC 3892 Telephone: (03) 5158 0098