Toora From the outlook at Silcocks Hill Road, Toora, breathtaking views of Wilsons Promontory National Park across Corner Inlet spread as far as the eyes can see. History of Toora - The word 'toora' is said to be an Aboriginal instruction which translates as 'woman, look after fire'. It was reputedly used regularly when the men in the group departed for religious ceremonies at Wilsons Promontory. - Toora was first named Muddy Creek in the 1860s when a timber mill was set up on a 640 acre Mangrove Pre-emptive Right to supply much needed hardwood for the colony. - The gold boom had led to a building surge in Melbourne when blue gum sleepers were used in the first piers constructed at Port Melbourne while railway sleepers were sent to India when the British Government were constructing hundreds of miles of railway lines. - George Buchanan built a sawmill at Sealers Cove on Wilsons Promontory but the supply of timber was too limited and in 1853 he arranged for it to be relocated first to Agnes River and then across to Muddy Creek. Situated on the east bank of Muddy Creek, Buchanan's Mill had contracts for many types of sawn timber which was transported across the mangrove swamp to Swan Bay where it was loaded onto barges which carried them to larger boats anchored in deeper water in Corner Inlet. Parts of the old tramlines and loading facilities still remain. - More mills were established in the thickly forested hills and the timber was transported on tramlines across swamps and taken to seaports by barges. - Not far from the old mill site, still on the coastal plain, during the depression of the 1890s the government of the day encouraged settlement of the area as farming land under the Village Settlement Scheme but the blocks were too small and the scheme failed. The abandoned land was taken up for dairying and the fattening of cattle. These are the main industries of the area today. *This information was gathered from www.theage.com.au and the Toora and District Family History Group Inc. The town today - Further inland, the spectacular countryside continues to offer new views at every turn. North of Toora beyond Mt. Best and Mt. Fatigue is the beautiful Gunyah Gunyah Forest. Huge trees of mountain ash, colourful beeches, wattles and magnificent tree ferns are growing there for tourists, photographers and artists to view. The sounds of the lyre birds are always present to hear. - This timber reserve of 2000 acres backs onto the scenic Grand Ridge Road which meanders across the full length of the Strzelecki Ranges. - Nearby Agnes Falls are the tallest in Victoria and easily accessible to the thousands of visitors who each year come to the Strzelecki Ranges and Wilsons Promontory. - A round trip along the scenic route from Toora brings you down to the sea again via Welshpool to Port Welshpool where the Long Jetty has recently been added to the Heritage List. - A boat ramp at Toora gives access to Corner Inlet and is within a short drive from Port Franklin, Yarram, Waratah Bay and many ports off the South Gippsland Highway. *This information was gathered from Toora and District Family History Group Inc. (online) Town facilities * Banks * * Bendigo Bank - Branch - 48 Stanley Street * Dump Point * Toora Tourist Park - Fees apply - South Gippsland Hwy * Internet * * Toora Royal Standard Hotel - Stanley Street * Petrol Station * * BP Service Station - 26 Foster Road * Supermarket/General Store * Toora Supermarket - 66 Stanley Street Quick facts - Population approximately 550 - 180 kilometres south-east of Melbourne Activities and attractions See "Things to see and do" section for further details - Agnes Falls - Toora Wind Farm. - RAMSAAR international wetland site How to get there Toora is located 180 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, around 2.5 hours along the South Gippsland Highway or 13 kilometres east of Foster and approximately 12 kilometres from Agnes Falls.