Swifts Creek, Victoria Totally Explained

Everything about Swifts Creek Victoria totally explained

Swifts Creek is a rural community located between Omeo and Ensay on the Great Alpine Road in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, east of the state capital Melbourne. Swifts Creek is at an altitude of 300 m above sea level. The area was originally settled by Europeans in the gold rushes of the mid 1800s.
At the 2006 census, Swifts Creek and the surrounding area had a population of 281. Local estimates often suggest a population somewhat less than official figures for the area, but there are disputes over what surrounding areas are counted in the town's population.

History

The Aboriginal name for the site of Swifts Creek was Bun Jirrah Gingee Munjie, which translates as 'big kangaroos go to that place'. True to this name, mobs of large Eastern Grey Kangaroos still frequent the town, especially at night when they're often seen feeding by the roadside, and on the local football ground and primary school oval.
   The town of Swifts Creek is located at the confluence of Swifts Creek and the Tambo River. The creek was reputedly named after an otherwise unknown gold prospector named Swift who worked the creek panning for alluvial gold in the 1850s. The townsite itself was originally known as "Swifts Creek Junction", as it was at the road junction alongside Swifts Creek.
   It is often argued that the name should be Swift's Creek, with a possessive apostrophe, as the creek was named after Swift. In correct English usage this would be accurate; however under the Victorian Government's Geographic Place Names Act 1998 apostrophes are omitted in all place names. This is to avoid confusion and debate on just this issue, and therefore no place names in Victoria are officially spelt with the possessive apostrophe.
   In the 1870s McLarty's Junction Hotel was established, and a small town with stores, service facilities, and a butter factory slowly grew up around the site. The butter factory was constructed in 1907 and eventually produced 50 tonnes per annum, with the majority being sent for sale in Melbourne. Due to unreliable seasons, the factory eventually closed down in 1946. The building is no longer in existence, however Factory Lane just past the creek at the northern end of town marks its former location.
   A flour mill was also planned, but was instead installed in the nearby town of Ensay in 1913. These factories were constructed as a result of local demand for flour, milk, butter and cream. The cost of transporting goods was high as wagons from the nearest large town of Bairnsdale took a week in good weather to travel the distance (now approximately an hour by car). Around this time, Ian Ezard built the Swifts Creek sawmill, which provided the stable economy the town needed to move on from its gold mining beginnings. In contrast, the surrounding towns of Cassilis and Tongio West collapsed, as the area lost its potential for gold mining.

Industry

The primary industries today are timber and farming of sheep and cattle. Run by Dormit Industries, the sawmill specialises in making wood pallets out of low grade local Mountain Ash timber. It uses an advanced system designed in France which aims at utilising the entire log, and thus making the process economical. Besides this, the major employers in town are now the local branch of the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the government primary and secondary schools. There are also a number of small retail outlets and services, including a hotel, general store, gallery, bookshop, cafe, bakery and post office.
The district is also becoming a more popular tourist destination. The town offers limited tourist accommodation, including flats associated with the hotel, a caravan park, and cottage style accommodation approximately five kilometres from town heading towards Cassilis.

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