Beech Forest, Victoria

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Town in Victoria, Australia

Beech Forest
Victoria

Main street

Beech Forest

Coordinates| 38°38′0″S 143°34′0″E﻿ / ﻿38.63333°S 143.56667°E﻿ / -38.63333; 143.56667
Population| 82 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)| 3237
Location|

* 193 km (120 mi) SW of Melbourne
* 43 km (27 mi) S of Colac

LGA(s)| Colac Otway Shire
State electorate(s)| Polwarth
Federal division(s)| Corangamite
| Localities around Beech Forest:

Carlisle River | Gellibrand | Barramunga
Ferguson
Wyelangta | Beech Forest | Tanybryn
Glenaire | Aire Valley | Apollo Bay

Beech Forest is a town in Victoria, Australia. The area of Beech Forest is largely used for potato farming.

## History

[edit]

The town was named after the many myrtle beech trees of the area. Beech Forest Post Office opened on 10 May 1890 and closed in 1994.[2]

## Infrastructure

[edit]

The town had a railway station on the Crowes railway line from 1902 until 1962. Much of the route of the old railway has been converted to the Old Beechy Rail Trail, via which cyclists and walkers can travel 45 kilometres (28 mi) between Beech Forest and Colac.

## Flora

[edit]

The forest is primarily characterized by:

* Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), the namesake of the forest[3]

Other significant tree species include:

* Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
* Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans)
* Californian Redwoods (Sequoia sp.), planted in 1939[4]

The understory is rich in ferns, including:

* Soft Tree-fern (Dicksonia antarctica)
* Cyathea australis
* Blechnum wattsii
* Polystichum proliferum[3]

Other plants found in the cool temperate rainforest include:

* Hedycarya angustifolia
* Olearia argophylla
* Pimelea axiflora
* Pomaderris aspera
* Prostanthera lasianthos
* Tasmannia lanceolata[3]

Epiphytes, such as fork-ferns, filmy ferns, and orchids, are common in the humid microclimate created by the tree-fern layer.[3]

## Fauna

[edit]

The diverse forest ecosystem supports various animal species:

### Mammals

[edit]

* Medium-sized browsers like wombats and wallabies
* Small ground insectivores and omnivores, including antechinus and native rats
* Arboreal species (likely possums and gliders)[3]

### Birds

[edit]

While specific bird species are not detailed in the available sources, the diverse forest ecosystem likely supports a variety of bird species typical of Victorian rainforests.[5]

### Insects and other invertebrates

[edit]

The moist, forested environment provides habitat for numerous insect and invertebrate species, though specific examples are not provided in the available sources.[5]

The Beech Forest area is known for its beautiful waterfalls and scenic drives, which contribute to the overall biodiversity of the region. The unique combination of aspect, soils, and climate in the Otway hinterland creates a distinctive ecosystem that supports this rich variety of plant and animal life.[4]

## Notable residents

[edit]

* Cliff Young, winner of the 1983 Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon at the age of 61

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Beech Forest (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
2. ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 29 March 2021
3. ^ a b c d e "Great Otway National Park". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
4. ^ a b "Beech Forest". Visit Otways. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
5. ^ a b Inferred based on typical rainforest ecosystems in Victoria

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Beech Forest, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons

* Walkabout Travel Guide – Beech Forest
* Bureau of Meteorology Daily Rainfall – Beech Forest

* v
* t
* e

Localities in the Shire of Colac Otway

Town|

* Apollo Bay
* Barongarook
* Barongarook West
* Beeac
* Birregurra^
* Colac
* Cororooke
* Elliminyt
* Forrest
* Gellibrand
* Irrewarra
* Larpent
* Marengo
* Simpson^
* Skenes Creek
* Warrion
* Winchelsea^

Locality|

* Aire Valley
* Alvie
* Balintore
* Barramunga
* Barunah Plains
* Barwon Downs
* Beech Forest
* Bungador
* Cape Otway
* Carlisle River^
* Carpendeit^
* Chapple Vale^
* Colac East
* Colac West
* Coragulac
* Corunnun
* Cressy^
* Cundare
* Cundare North^
* Dreeite
* Dreeite South
* Eurack
* Ferguson
* Gellibrand Lower^
* Gerangamete
* Glenaire
* Grey River
* Hordern Vale
* Irrewillipe
* Irrewillipe East
* Jancourt East^
* Johanna
* Kawarren
* Kennett River
* Lavers Hill
* Mount Sabine
* Murroon
* Nalangil
* Ombersley^
* Ondit
* Pennyroyal^
* Petticoat Creek
* Pirron Yallock^
* Separation Creek
* Skenes Creek North
* Stonyford^
* Sugarloaf
* Swan Marsh
* Tanybryn
* Warncoort
* Weeaproinah
* Weering
* Whoorel
* Wingeel^
* Wongarra
* Wool Wool
* Wye River
* Wyelangta
* Yeo
* Yeodene
* Yuulong

^ \- Territory divided with another LGA

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