Lake Lascalles

Hopetoun
Interesting service town in the Mallee
Hopetoun is a small town of about 800 people in the southern Mallee. Surrounded by rolling sand hills and grassy plains, it is situated on the Henty Highway, 404 km north-west of Melbourne and 62 km north of Warracknabeal.

The town stands on Yarriambiac Creek, near Lake Corrong. 'Yarriambiac' is said to mean 'creek tribes' while 'corrong' is a bark canoe. Both words presumably derive from the language of the Yarrikaluk people who inhabited the area prior to European settlement.

Peter McGinnis was granted a sheep run here in 1846 which he named 'Lake Corrong'. In 1878 he sold his property to Edward Lascelles. Lascelles was dubbed the 'Mallee King' and 'Father of the Mallee' as it was he more than anyone else who was responsible for the European settlement of the district. He began the process of destroying local vermin such as the rabbits that had been introduced in the 1860s and which had significantly reduced wool production (a rabbit-proof fence was eventually built along the 36th parallel to prevent rabbits moving into the Wimmera region).

Lascelles also agitated for lengthier terms of tenure so that pastoralists could improve their land and he was the first to envisage an agricultural future for an area which was not considered to have much promise. He subdivided his property, developed a water supply and began growing wheat which has since become the mainstay of the region (half of the state's wheat and barley and a good portion of its oats now derive from the Mallee). To the west of Hopetoun he developed a six-acre experimental orchard named the Lochs and he successfully lobbied the government to extend the railway to Hopetoun in 1893.

Lascelles never made a fortune from his Mallee endeavours but never doubted his cause and, by the time he died at Geelong in 1917, he was regarded as one of the state's major pioneers. The fountain in the middle of town is dedicated to his memory.

Lascelles' homestead, built in 1891, became known as Hopetoun House after the seventh Earl of Hopetoun who was Victorian governor from 1889 to 1895 and the first governor-general of Australia (1901 to 1903). He was a friend of Lascelles' and a regular visitor to the house.

The town developed around and drew its name from Hopetoun House. The first township blocks were also sold in 1891. Water was channelled from the Grampians to the new settlement in 1899. After the First World War, many soldier settlers were granted farm plots.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
Gateway Beat, 75 Lascelles St, tel: (03) 5083 3001.

Corrong Station Homestead
The homestead was built around 1846 by the first land grantee in the area, Peter McGinnis, for his wife, his seven children and their adopted Aboriginal boy, Jowley, known as Black Peter, who is buried in the local cemetery. The house has been relocated in McGinnis Park off Evelyn St, amongst a lot of Australian native plants. It is generally open weekends but on an informal basis. If it is not open when you arrive a sign will direct you to contact the woman over the road for the key.

Hopetoun House, 77 Evelyn Street, Hopetoun

Hopetoun House
At 77 Evelyn St, opposite the swimming pool, is Hopetoun House built of local limestone in 1891 by Edward Lascelles who did more than any other to transform the scrub of the Mallee into productive agricultural and pastoral land.

The house was named after the seventh Earl of Hopetoun who was Victorian governor from 1889 to 1895 and the first governor-general of Australia (1901 to 1903). He was a friend of Lascelles' and a regular visitor to the house. The town developed around Hopetoun House and later took its name.

The brick-and-stone home has formal gardens and a circular drive. It originally had uninterrupted views of the lakes. Lascelles left the house when he returned to Geelong in 1898. Now in private ownership

Lake Lascelles
Lake Lascelles is a beautiful recreation spot only 400 m from the shopping centre. The foreshore park has picnic facilities and barbecues and the lake is ideal for all water sports. There is a childrens' playground, a boat ramp and water sports facilities. The first stage of a fascinating and eccentric structure called the 'Creative Village' is almost complete. It is intended as an hostel for backpackers, providing overnight accommodation and cooking facilities etc. For further information ring (03) 5083 3411.

Hopetoun Historical Museum
Hopetoun Historical Museum is based in the former primary school on the Yaapeet Rd. It is open by appointment, tel: (03) 5083 3001.

Mural
A huge and colourful wall mural (20.7 x 3.7 metres) in the centre of town depicts items associated with local history (a stump-jump plough, the Mallee roller etc) and local birds and wildflowers.

The memorial fountain in the town centre was erected in 1929 as a tribute to Lascelles.

Lake Coorong
Just to the south-east of town is Lake Coorong which only fills up in very wet years. It was once a meeting place for Aborigines who traded stone axes, grinders, mussel shells and ochre. It is still popular with local avifauna and is ideal for canoeing, windsurfing or picnicking. For further information ring (03) 5083 3411.

Wyperfeld National Park
Wyperfeld National Park is one of Victoria's largest national parks. It contains a series of lakes which are linked by Outlet Creek, though they are usually dry, filling only when the Wimmera River floods, which is about once every few decades. It fills Lake Albacutya which overflows into Outlet Creek, once frequented by Aborigines.

European settlers moved into the area in 1847. The first reserve was established in 1909 as a result of lobbying by naturalists (the park was declared in 1921).

The park is known for its fauna and flora. There are plenty of kangaroos, emus and birds in the park which consists of semi-arid landscapes of sand dunes and spinifex, mallee scrub, heathlands and native pine woodlands of river red gum and blackbox.

To access the park head west of the Hopetoun-Yaapeet Rd (sealed). After 31 km the road veers to the right near Lake Albacutya (see entry on Rainbow) and veers north for another 20 km to Wonga Camping Area where there are camping and picnic facilities, fireplaces, toilets, cold water for handwashing (i.e., to be used sparingly) and a visitors' centre where you can get further information on the park's features. There are a number of lookouts, the 15-km Eastern Lookout Nature Drive which is suitable for a 2WD (an accompanying leaflet outlines interesting features), two 6-km nature walks and some longer treks. Be warned that, in summer, it gets very hot. Be sure you have plenty of water, a hat, compass and topographic map. Cyclists will enjoy the entrance road, the Eastern Lookout road and the Outlet Creek track.

If you have a 4WD it is possible to access Casuarina Campground and Pine Plains in the park's northern section (see entry on Patchewollock). The route is well-signposted.

There is also a camping area with basic facilities for overnight walkers at the commencement of the Nine Mile Square Track. Other accommodation is available at Rainbow and Yaapeet.

For further information on the park ring (03) 5395 7221.

Wathe Reserve
The appeal of the Wathe Flora and Fauna Reserve is that it is an important breeding ground for the Mallee fowl which is indigenous to this semi-arid region of Victoria. The mallee fowl can be detected by its distinctive mounds which are circular and dome-like in shape. They can be as much as five metres across and one metre high. The fowl lays its eggs inside this mound. Wildflowers bloom all year round. The sandy tracks render this a 4WD-only zone. It is signposted off the Hopetoun to Patchewollock. For further information on the reserve ring (03) 5083 3411.

	Hotels
	Club Hotel Hopetoun Austin St Hopetoun VIC 3396 Telephone: (03) 5083 3021
	Hopetoun Hotel/Motel 16 Austin St Hopetoun VIC 3396 Telephone: (03) 5083 3070 Rating: **
	Caravan Parks
	Hopetoun Caravan Park Austin St Hopetoun VIC 3396 Telephone: (03) 5083 3001 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Hopetoun Hotel/Motel 16 Austin St Hopetoun VIC 3396 Telephone: (03) 5083 3070