Fish Creek

Fish Creek , the gateway to Wilsons Promontory is a small town of just 201 people. It has been that number since we moved here 30 years ago, not a soul less nor more, that is according to the sign as you enter .. However when I go into town now there are so many new faces, people of all ages who have moved to the area for its uniqueness and intrinsic beauty.

Retired professionals from Melbourne have moved here in search of a quiet and less polluted environment to enjoy their new found freedom. Many young families have moved here because of the cheaper cost of living and the beautiful environment to raise a family, away from city crowds, crime and pollution both in air quality and noise. There is a real sense of community in a small country town such as Fish Creek, people of all ages participate in the life of the town . It is like a living organism, ever changing but essentially staying the same.

These photos were all taken at 7am this morning with my I phone so I apologise if the quality is not there. But they do give a bit of a glimpse into this quiet little town. It has a uniqueness of its own and is well worth stopping in by on the way to Wilsons Prom to see it for yourself.

The heart of the town is the Fishy Pub, known for its good food and friendly atmosphere. This is where all the locals gather to interact and enjoy each others company. The pub is a dominant building in art deco style with a large dead ( sculptured ) fish perched on top.

If the Pub is the heart then the lungs have to be the Footy Club where many local boys have trained and played from a young age to be very fit young men. Everyone in town is proud of the achievements of the local footy team. Some of its players have gone on to play League football in Melbourne.. Sport is a big part of the life of small country towns and Fish Creek, though small in population is large in its involvement in competitive sports. Apart from football there is cricket, tennis, netball, badminton and bowls.

The town itself is well equipped with a variety of very unique and different art galleries . Celia Rossers Gallery exhibits work by the very well known artist of the same name. Celia has documented and painted every known species of banksia. Another interesting gallery is Ride The Wild Goat. This like its name is very different featuring the work of another local artist in Andrew MacPherson. Andrew has the incredible ability to see beauty in what most of us would consider junk and he can turn it into a piece of work you can't help but appreciate. Another gallery is Gecko, this one doubles as an art supplies outlet and an avenue for many talented artists to share their work. Fish Creeks oldest gallery is Stefani Hilltop Gallery which is privately owned by Bianca Stefani, a very accomplished and well known local landscape artist.

You don't have to just play sport or visit art galleries in Fish Creek, there are also some good places to enjoy a meal or coffee with friends. I mentioned earlier the famous Fishy Pub but there's more. There is KO which serves a delicious a la carte menu , the Flying Cow for a sensational coffee and lunch menu and the Green Baron for freshly prepared takeaway. A few kilometers out of town is Basia Mille which offers 6 Star accommodation and food to match . It also has a vineyard, olive grove and golf course. Nearby is Waratah Country Park which also offers boutique accommodation and meals .

The other shops in this wonderful little town of Fish Creek include a beautiful and intriguing bookshop, a supermarket, post-office, and some extraordinary gift shops.

There is also a local primary school and 3 churches. Secondary students are bussed to Foster, a town about 10 kilometers away.

The countryside around Fish Creek is very similar to what you would see in Ireland, with sheep and cattle grazing the rolling green hills. It is a very productive farming area, producing, milk, meat and vegetables. Just out of town are a couple of vineyards and olive groves, so a diverse range of activities take place in our little town and surrounds.

Another feature is the proximity to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, although the cooler climate is not always conducive to beach activity. Our favourite beach is Walkerville which is a very sheltered cove where a small and thriving town once existed. The remains of the old lime kilns are still there and there is a quaint little cemetery up on the hill.

There is also Waratah Bay, a very safe and quiet beach with a small village and caravan park and Sandy Point which has a bigger residential area . Sandy Point has a well equipped supermarket and cafe and a caravan park. It is also home to a growing interest in wind surfing and an ever increasing number of fishing boats go out from the inlet. The inlet is a shallow tidal area which is very popular for recreational activities for families.

I feel I must mention the Prom when talking about Fish Creek because the Prom is the main reason tourists would come to the area.

The Promontory is an isthmus that extends from Yanakie out into Bass Strait, about 50 kms from Fish Creek. It is a world heritage listed National Park of intrinsic beauty and well worth putting on your bucket list of places you must see. To really appreciate the Prom you need to be fit enough to do some walking because a big part of it can only be seen if you get out and walk. With that in mind, do not leave it too late in life but go while you still can. You will be so glad you did.

The best time to be there is in the Autumn as the influx of Summer holiday tourists is over and the weather is still good.

After the fires which swept through the Prom a couple of years ago we walked down to the lighthouse on the tip. It was an amazing walk as we witnessed the incredible resilince of the Australian bush to recover after fire. I will include a couple of photos of that walk.

However if you want to know more about the Prom I suggest you google it. There is a lot of information and photos on the web that I could not include here.

I apreciate your coments as it will help me to write articles that hold interest.

See map below of Fish Creek through to Wilsons Promontory