Otway Division of General Practice

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Situated on the River Moyne at the centre of the romantic and historic Shipwreck Coast, Port Fairy is an historic wonderland. The home port for a large fishing fleet and an attractive, rambling holiday resort, Port Fairy is 28 kms west of Warrnambool and 290 kms west of Melbourne, with both ocean and river as its borders.

Link to map of Port Fairy township

The town's history goes back to whaling days. At its peak in the 1850s, the port was the second busiest in Australia. Wool, wheat and gold were loaded onto great sailing ships bound for England.

Charming white-washed cottages line the wide streets, the same way they have for over a century.

Down at the wharves the 'catch of the day' may be purchased fresh from the boats which line the dock. East and south beaches are popular swimming spots, and historic inns, hostels and former whalers' cottages are now fine food restaurants and places to stay.

There are over 27 shipwrecks in Port Fairy Bay and you can follow nature and heritage walks to explore them.

On the banks of the Moyne River, Battery Hill, a small park, was home to a fortification established in the 1860s to protect against Russian invaders. Several large cannons, gun emplacements and signal station were placed there. These remain today.

Lady Julia Percy Island is only 10km offshore and home to a thriving colony of fur seals.

Tourism has now replaced fishing as the major economic activity but an active fishing fleet still operates out of the harbour and it is home to a small fleet of pleasure craft. The wharf is a wonderful place to relax and watch the world drift by. The Norfolk pines and colonial buildings form a picturesque backdrop to the tranquil waters of the Moyne River.

Over 50 of its small cottages and bluestone buildings are National Trust-classified. This charming old-world fishing village is popular with heritage lovers and holiday-makers.

The ships anchored in the bay while goods and passengers were ferried back and forth from the wharf on smaller craft, known as lighters.

Griffith Island at the Moyne Mouth, accessible by foot, is home to large colonies of mutton birds. At dusk, thousands return from the ocean to roost.

Sporting activities include fishing, golf, swimming, bowls and tennis, and of course exploring.

The Port Fairy Folk Festival is held in March every year  over the four day long week-end and presents a unique line-up of International and National artists.

Each Christmas Eve the Moyneyana Festival begins and runs through to the end of January, highlighted by the New Year's Eve procession of floats and bands.