Kilcunda

Kilcunda
Victoria

Bass Highway
Kilcunda
Coordinates 38°32′59″S 145°28′34″E / 38.5498°S 145.4761°E / -38.5498; 145.4761Coordinates: 38°32′59″S 145°28′34″E / 38.5498°S 145.4761°E / -38.5498; 145.4761
Population 321 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 3995
Location
  • 122 km (76 mi) SE of {{{location1}}}
  • 15 km (9 mi) NW of Wonthaggi
  • 28 km (17 mi) SE of Cowes
LGA(s) Bass Coast Shire
State electorate(s) Bass
Federal Division(s) Flinders
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
18.7 °C
66 °F		 9.5 °C
49 °F		 920.7 mm
36.2 in
Kilcunda Beach And Bourne Creek

Kilcunda /ˈkɪlkʌndɑː/ is a seaside town located 117 kilometres (73 mi) south east of Melbourne between Phillip Island and Wonthaggi near Dalyston via the South Gippsland Highway on the Bass Highway, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Known originally as a train station near Wonthaggi, it is now the location of a very popular swimming hole at the Bourne Creek Trestle Bridge and at the 2011 census, Kilcunda had a population of 321.[1]

The name "Kilcunda" is believed to be from the Aboriginal term for 'an exclamation', and is reported by one authority to mean, 'Oh dear, the sticks!'[2]

Today

Trestle Bridge

Swimmers At Kilcunda Trestle Bridge, Where Bourne Creek meets Kilcunda Beach

The 91 m long Kilcunda Bridge was built over the Bourne Creek. It is protected by the National Trust. This trestle bridge was constructed for the Victorian Railways to carry coal from what was then known as the Powlett Coal Fields. It is a particularly significant monument because most of the steam-locomotive fuel that serviced the Victorian Railways network, from 1911 until 1978, crossed over this bridge. Since disused, the bridge is now a tourist attraction and a part of the Bass Coast Rail Trail.[3] Bourne creek spills over Kilcunda Beach and out into the sea of Bass Strait.[4] Seashell collecting is permitted on Kilcunda Beaches.[5]

Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel

Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel

The Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel is located on the Bass Highway directly opposite Kilcunda Beach.

Bass Coast Rail Trail

Walking, cycling and horse trotting is the modern use of the old Wonthaggi railway line all year round. The Bass Coast Rail Trail is very flat and begins near Kilcunda at the roundabout to Phillip Island and ends at the Wonthaggi shopping district. You can also access it all along the way, including at Kilcunda. Victoria’s only coastal rail trail, it stretches 16 kilometres from Anderson to Wonthaggi, meandering through farmland, coastal bushland, historic coal mining nature reserves and coastline with a clear view of the Wonthaggi wind turbines and remnants of coal mine buildings. The trail crosses over the Powlett River and the Bourne Creek trestle bridge at Kilcunda, which has panoramic views of the beach. Kangaroos can often be spotted as well as many bird species. An extension of the trail from Anderson to Woolamai, on Phillip Island, has not yet been made suitable for cyclists. Public toilets are situated at each town along the way. Public toilets in Anderson are situated at the bus interchange which handles connections between the San Remo and Inverloch/Wonthaggi public transport routes.[4] The bus interchange is adjacent to the eastern side of the Anderson roundabout.

Kilcunda Loster Festival

The Annual Kilcunda Lobster Festival began in 1984 and is held on Australia Day weekend.[4]

Shore Fishing

Very popular surf fishing area, catching Salmon, Trout and Yellow-eyed Mullet.[4]

Climate

Kilcunda's location on the north shore of Bass Strait gives it an oceanic climate, with the moderating effect of the ocean allowing a narrower temperature range throughout the year compared to other regions in Victoria. Average daily maximum temperatures range from 23.5 °C in the summer to 13.5 in winter. Frost is rare, occurring on average 6 mornings a year.[6]

History

The Bunurong Aboriginal people were custodians of this stretch of coast for thousands of years prior to white settlement. The Boakoolawal clan lived in the Kilcunda area south of the Bass River. Middens containing charcoal and shellfish mark the location of their campsites along the coast.[4]

Originally a coal mining township, The Western Port Coal Mining Company extracted black coal from 1871. The Post Office opened on 5 August 1879.[7] Evidence of coal mining is scattered across Kilcunda, the most famous (pictured here) is the old Kilcunda Rail Bridge on the eastern side. Commissioned in 1910 and decommissioned in the 1970s, it now forms part of the Bass Coast Rail Trail. Mitchell's Black Coal Mine ruins are on Carew Road.[7]

Education

There is a primary school in nearby San Remo, a primary school in nearby Dalyston and Wonthaggi has three primary schools and one secondary college. There is a private secondary college on nearby Phillip Island. Also Chisholm TAFE,[8] Bass Coast Specialist School,[9] Bass Coast Adult Education Centre,[10] University of the Third Age (U3A) retirees education centre,[11] and Connecting Skills Australia (CSA) specialist developmental school, support and employment services/training.[12] Plans are underway for a new tertiary education facility.[13]

Facilities

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Kilcunda (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  2. ↑ In The Artists Footsteps, retrieved 14 November 2013
  3. ↑ Heritage Victoria, retrieved 16 November 2013
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Bass Coast Information Centres, retrieved 28 October 2013
  5. 1 2 Department Of Environment And Primary Industries, retrieved 14 November 2013
  6. ↑ "Australian Weather News". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  7. 1 2 Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 14 November 2013
  8. ↑ Chisholm TAFE, retrieved 14 November 2013
  9. ↑ Bass Coast Specialist School, retrieved 14 November 2013
  10. ↑ Bass Coast Adult Education Centre, retrieved 14 November 2013
  11. ↑ University Of The Third Age (U3A), retrieved 14 November 2013
  12. ↑ Connecting Skills Australia, retrieved 14 November 2013
  13. ↑ Bass Coast Shire, retrieved 14 November 2013
  14. 1 2 Travel Victoria, retrieved 14 November 2013
  15. ↑ Kilcunda Hotel, retrieved 17 November 2013
  16. ↑ Victorian Desalination Plant, retrieved 14 November 2013
  17. ↑ Wonthaggi Golf Club, retrieved 14 November 2013
  18. ↑ Wonthaggi Historical Society, retrieved 14 November 2013
  19. ↑ Parks Victoria, retrieved 14 November 2013
  20. ↑ Street Advisor, retrieved 14 November 2013

External links

Media related to Kilcunda at Wikimedia Commons

Kilcunda Night Sky Panoramic

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, December 26, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.