11 Things to Do at Memorial Square, Colac
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Colac is billed as the Gateway to the Otways. At around 150kms and an hour and a half from the Melbourne CBD Colac is well placed in south central Victoria. This friendly rural town set amongst picturesque volcanic plains and lakes, and surrounded by quaint townships offers a smorgasbord of
things to do and see . In the centre of town is Memorial Square. This is so much more than greenery between blocks of shops. Take the time to stop and be surprised.
1. The Memorial and the Pool of Remembrance. The feature of Memorial Square is the towering sandstone
memorial built after WWI in 1924. This substantial structure contains the names of 1,665 soldiers. After WWII another memorial was built in the park, combining a low wall and two tall columns facing a pool of remembrance.
2. See a Descendant of the Lone Pine. The original Lone Pine was planted in Gallipoli from pine cones collected in the trenches. Some of these cones were brought to Australia and today descendants of this important tree are growing in memorials around the country.
The Colac Lone Pine was grown in Memorial Square in 1965.
3. Visit the Cliff Young Commemoration Stone. In a corner of the park a rock with a plaque is a static reminder to a dynamic feat. It was in this park in 1982 that Cliff Young, the Australian running legend ran 800kms in 8 days, 4 hours and 46 minutes. The run included 500kms in 3 days, 16 hours and 20 minutes and set two world records for a person of 60 years. In 1983 Cliff went on to win the Sydney to Melbourne Ultra-Marathon when he covered 886kms in 5 days, 15 hours and 4 minutes.
4. Set the Children Loose in the Playground. The playground features a multi-platform play centre with steps, low climbing walls, three slides, one of which is enclosed, monkey bars, and counting balls. The top platform is sheltered by a mini rotunda. Alongside this is a play unit shaped like a steam traction engine. A balance pole completes the selection. Parents can watch in comfort from the park seats at the edges of the playground.
5. Have a Picnic or BBQ. The park at Memorial Square has two BBQ and picnic areas. The first is near the children's playground. This has a covered BBQ and a picnic table and seats which are shaded by large trees. The second, at the other end of the park features a BBQ and two sets of picnic tables.
6. Take a Walk Along the Paths. Memorial Square, which occupies a complete city block is surrounded by paths. The expansive lawns are then crossed corner to corner by walking paths which meet in the middle of the park where they circle the memorial.
7. Have a Rest in the Sunshine. There is no shortage of seating in Memorial Square. Park benches surround the Square and line the walking paths at comfortable intervals. There is plenty of open lawn to sit on and many large shade trees to relax under.
8. Have a Look at the Rotary Clock. In front of Memorial Square in the main street is an imposing clock set in an artistic metal surround. The clock was presented to the people of the Colac District by the Rotary Clubs of Colac and Colac West on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Rotary International in 1980. It was upgraded and relocated to its current position in 1998.
9. Take a Selfie in the Picturesque Rotunda. Surrounded by a circle of well clipped hedges and park benches and edged with flowers is an elegant rotunda. Painted in blue and beige with a dome of federation red, the rotunda is a sight to see and is no doubt the scene of many a wedding photo. It is a great location for a selfie with the Memorial in the background.
10. Take a "Rest" Break. There are public toilets at Memorial Square making it an ideal place for a stopover from your trip. The children can uncross their legs and cease their "are we there yet" chorus.
11. Take a Drink from the Fountain. Public drink fountains have gone out of fashion but can often still be found in country towns. The drinking fountain at Memorial Square has a step up stone catering children and shorter adults. There is a water tap beside the fountain.
Make the most of your visit, regardless of whether you are staying for a while or just passing through. Memorial Park is a great place to start. Colac is around 150kms and an hour and a half from the Melbourne CBD. Visit the
website for directions. Memorial Square is on the corner of Murray Street and Gellibrand Street. The Visitor Information Centre can be contacted on (03) 5231 3730.
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118269 - 2023-06-12 20:35:27