Colbinabbin

Centre for the surrounding agricultural region, Colbinabbin, originally one of four pastoral runs, became an established settlement in the mid to late 1800’s eventually becoming a major wheat-handling terminal with introduction of the railway in 1914.

Today, at the heart of a highly fertile & productive agricultural valley at the base of the Colbinabbin Range, one of Victoria’s oldest landforms formed of ‘greenstone,’ and the northern extremity of the Heathcote Wine Region, grapes grown on ancient Cambrian soils produce world renowned & gold medal winning wine – Shiraz – while local food & wine is served at rapidly emerging cellar door outlets.

Heritage listed Colbinabbin Well bears testament to the regions Pioneers, while, Lake Cooper, the bed of an ancient lake, lies to the north of Colbinabbin, and serves as ‘home’ for the Victorian Water Ski Association.

Toolleen

Located at one of the busiest intersections of the gold-rush era, where hopeful prospectors & their families travelling to Waranga goldfields from Bendigo and McIvor, met with traders & their horse-drawn drays travelling the famous stock routes between Melbourne and the Port of Echuca.

Today, located on the Northern Highway, set amid a highly productive agricultural valley where gold once lay hidden beneath the ground, Toolleen is serviced by the local store/post office and hotel, and is a southern gateway to the burgeoning northern extremity of the Heathcote Wine Region, and a starting point to travel the original route taken by the gold mining pioneers along the Gold & Ironbark Trail to Whroo and Rushworth.

Corop

Located on the Midland Highway, adjacent to the northern shores of Lake Cooper, Corop, by the late 1870’s was a thriving village with several churches, school, library, flour mill, stores, hotel, racecourse and rowing club.

Nearby to the east lies Green’s Lake, while located further east is Wallenjoe Wetlands, a closely interlinked system of deep and shallow freshwater marshes of high ecological value dominated by River Red Gum, which supports a large variety of water birds  - the Great Egret, White-bellied Sea Eagle -  and is a breeding ground for the shy Brolga.

While little remains of the former settlement, Corop is a delightful stopover point to enjoy a picnic lunch or rest at the wayside stop, ‘stretch your legs,’ or take in the views across Lake Cooper to the burgeoning viticulture region along the Colbinabbin Range.