Loch is a small vibrant village, conveniently tucked away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Loch is a charming village filled with cosy cafes, antique stores and galleries. The township is set back from the highway amongst colourful cottage gardens that spill out cheekily onto the street.
Things to see and do
Loch is approximately 100km from the Melbourne CBD and is located just off the South Gippsland Highway.
V/Line coach services are available for travel on the Yarram Line
Loch in South Gippsland was established with the coming of the railway in the 1876.
Early in Loch’s development, the townspeople recognised the need for a local and accessible school to provide the fluctuating numbers of children with an elementary and socialising education. Petitions were sent to the Victorian Department of Education for this purpose and by 1889 the school had been constructed and a Head Teacher, Francis William Clarke, appointed. He remained at Loch for the next 28 years and his time there provides the focus for a broad exploration into the establishment and growth of a small Victorian town. The school’s fluctuating numbers reflect the transient nature of Loch’s early population, while Clarke’s experiences with the Victorian Department of Education demonstrate the difficulties of dealing with a remote and officious bureaucracy. In many ways the history of this school and its teacher provide valuable information about living in what was then an isolated town, and the efforts of its residents to establish a sense of place and community. Through school history, we gain insight into the values, aspirations and achievements of the town’s people.
*History information was gathered online from ‘The Township is a Rising One’ – a book (abstract) by Lyn Payne on the Public Record Office Victoria.
Parks & Playgrounds
– Sunnyside Park, Victoria Road (Toilet)
– Skate Park, 43 Victoria Road
– Recreation Reserve, Loch-Poowong Road (Toilets, playground, BBQ)
Petrol Station
– Shell Petrol Loch, 29 Victoria Road
– Loch Food and Wine Festival (June)
– Loch Village Summer & Winter Markets
– NYE On the Hill
Loch Community Development Association
c/o Loch Post Office, Loch, 3945
Phone: 0400592248
Email: president@lcda.org.au
Loch is one of the first villages you will find when arriving in South Gippsland from Melbourne.
Here are some more nearby townships.
