Victoria, Australia

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Before reaching Wye River  when travelling south of the Great Ocean Road, you pass through Separation Creek, which is like a suburb of Wye River. The two localities are about one kilometre apart and are connected by a footpath known as Paddy’s Path. It has been reported Separation Creek was named to mark the geological divide and physical boundary separating the Parish of Wye from the Parish of Angahook¹.

Timeline

  • 1846, G.D. Smythe survey the coast and named Wye River and Kennet River
  • 1882, A & D McCrae and A. McLennan established farms and fishing camp pn the flats of Wye and Kennet Rivers. A 2m track was later built some 37 kn to Forrest.
  • 1895, E. Harrington, grazing lease
  • 1899, Jetty built 107 m long at Wye River, replaced in 1910.
  • 1900, Timber milling began. Blue gum timber and Transport company. Mill opened at Separation Creek, closed in 1912
  • 1916, Mill expanded, tramline added to transport timber. Population of 150, school opened.
  • 1932, Great Ocean Road, Lorne to Wye River completed.
  • 2015, Wye River Separation Creek Fire

 

 

c1930, old hotel, foreshore cypress trees in guards. (LHS photo 1111)

 

26th Nov 1932, Wye River, Opening of Great Ocean Road. (LHS photo 395)

 

1947, Wye River, Fletcher’s Store. (LHS photo 5211)

 

1985, Wye River flood. (LHS photo 2113)

Wye River and Separation Creek

2026, Remnants of old Wye River pier.

Wye River – Jamieson Track Fire, 25 December 2015

On Christmas Day 2015, 98 homes in Wye River and 18 in Separation Creek were destroyed by a fire that started from a lightning strike on the Jamison Track on December 19. Mercifully no lives were lost. The pub, store and SLSC were saved. 60 tankers, 13 aircraft, and over 500 firefighters fought the blaze. The fire continued to burn until 21 January. The fire burnt for 34 days until it was contained on 21 January 2016.  The fire burnt over 2,500 hectares with a perimeter of 47 kilometres.

Sources:

  • Lorne Historical Society Collections
  • ‘The Great Ocean Road’, Neptune Publishing, Loney J. 1984
  • Wye River Bushfire
  • ¹ Colac Otway Shire