Lake Bolac

The Victorian western plains town of Lake Bolac takes it name from the adjoining 1460ha freshwater lake. The shoreline is scattered with fish traps and middens which testify to the fact that the body of water and surrounding area was home for thousands of years for local Aboriginal tribes.

Today the lake attracts boating and sailing enthusiasts, windsurfers and anglers on the trail of the eels, trout, yellow-belly, redfin and perch with which the waters are stocked.

The local innkeeper keeps fishermen up to the mark with a two-monthly prize for the biggest fish taken in the lake and an annual award for the largest eel.

Sails from far and wide are unfurled on the lake at Easter for the annual four-day yachting regatta.

Most of the local buildings were constructed with the local bluestone, including the Lake Bolac Hotel, which was built in 1862 and where they are still pulling beer.

The spectacular Grampians National Park with its Aboriginal rock art, waterfalls, wildflowers and wide variety of native animals is 60km to the north.