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Coordinates: 38°38′0″S 143°34′0″E / 38.63333°S 143.56667°E / -38.63333; 143.56667
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{{Infobox Australian Place | type = town
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}{{More citations needed|date=August 2007}}{{Infobox Australian place | type = town
| name = Beech Forest
| name = Beech Forest
| state = vic
| state = vic
| image = FallsBeechForest.jpg|100px
| image = Beech Forest Main Street 001.JPG
| caption = Beauchamp Falls, Beech Forest
| caption = Main street
| coordinates = {{coord|38|38|0|S|143|34|0|E|display=inline,title}}
⚫
| lga = [[Colac Otway Shire]]
| pushpin_label_position = top
|use_lga_map = yes
⚫
| lga = Colac Otway Shire
| postcode = 3237
| postcode = 3237
| pop =
| pop = 82
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="abs">{{Census 2016 AUS | id = SSC20184 | name = Beech Forest (State Suburb) | accessdate = 17 November 2017 | quick = on}}</ref>
| est =
| est =
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Polwarth|Polwarth]]
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Polwarth|Polwarth]]
Line 12: Line 18:
| dist1 = 193
| dist1 = 193
| dir1 = SW
| dir1 = SW
| location1= [[Melbourne]]
| location1= Melbourne
| dist2 = 43
| dist2 = 43
| dir2 = S
| dir2 = S
| location2= [[Colac, Victoria|Colac]]
| location2= [[Colac, Victoria|Colac]]
| near-nw = [[Carlisle River, Victoria|Carlisle River]]
| dist3 =
| near-n = [[Gellibrand, Victoria|Gellibrand]]
| dir3 =
| near-ne = [[Barramunga, Victoria|Barramunga]]
| location3=
| near-w = [[Ferguson, Victoria|Ferguson]]<br>[[Wyelangta, Victoria|Wyelangta]]
| near-e = [[Tanybryn, Victoria|Tanybryn]]
| near-sw = [[Glenaire, Victoria|Glenaire]]
| near-s = [[Aire Valley, Victoria|Aire Valley]]
| near-se = [[Apollo Bay]]
}}
}}


'''Beech Forest''' is a town in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia. The area of Beech Forest is largely used for potato farming.
'''Beech Forest''' is a town in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia. The area of Beech Forest is largely used for potato farming.


== History ==
The town was named after the many Beech (myrtle) trees of the area.
The town was named after the many [[Nothofagus cunninghamii|myrtle beech]] trees of the area. Beech Forest Post Office opened on 10 May 1890 and closed in 1994.<ref name="a">{{Citation | last = Phoenix Auctions History | title = Post Office List | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Beech*Forest* | access-date = 29 March 2021 }}</ref>


== Infrastructure ==
⚫
[[Cliff Young (athlete)|Cliff Young]], winner of the 1983 Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon at the age of 61, lived in Beech Forest.
The town had a [[Beech Forest railway station|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 {{convert|45|km|mi}} between Beech Forest and [[Colac, Victoria|Colac]].

== Flora ==

The forest is primarily characterized by:

* [[Myrtle Beech]] (''Nothofagus cunninghamii''), the namesake of the forest<ref name="parkweb">{{cite web |url=https://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/great-otway-national-park |title=Great Otway National Park |website=Parks Victoria |access-date=2024-06-25}}</ref>

Other significant tree species include:
* [[Acacia melanoxylon|Blackwood]] (''Acacia melanoxylon'')
* [[Eucalyptus regnans|Mountain Ash]] (''Eucalyptus regnans'')
* [[Sequoia (genus)|Californian Redwoods]] (''Sequoia'' sp.), planted in 1939<ref name="otways">{{cite web |url=https://www.visitotways.com/destinations/beech-forest |title=Beech Forest |website=Visit Otways |access-date=2024-06-25}}</ref>

The understory is rich in ferns, including:
* [[Dicksonia antarctica|Soft Tree-fern]] (''Dicksonia antarctica'')
* ''[[Alsophila australis|Cyathea australis]]''
* ''[[Parablechnum wattsii|Blechnum wattsii]]''
* ''[[Polystichum proliferum]]''<ref name="parkweb" />

Other plants found in the cool temperate rainforest include:
* ''[[Hedycarya angustifolia]]''
* ''[[Olearia argophylla]]''
* ''[[Pimelea axiflora]]''
* ''[[Pomaderris aspera]]''
* ''[[Prostanthera lasianthos]]''
* ''[[Tasmannia lanceolata]]''<ref name="parkweb" />

Epiphytes, such as fork-ferns, filmy ferns, and orchids, are common in the humid microclimate created by the tree-fern layer.<ref name="parkweb" />

== Fauna ==

The diverse forest ecosystem supports various animal species:

=== Mammals ===
* Medium-sized browsers like [[wombat]]s and [[wallaby|wallabies]]
* Small ground insectivores and omnivores, including [[antechinus]] and native rats
* Arboreal species (likely [[Phalangeriformes|possum]]s and [[Gliding possum|gliders]])<ref name="parkweb" />

=== Birds ===
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.<ref name="inference">Inferred based on typical rainforest ecosystems in Victoria</ref>

=== Insects and other invertebrates ===
The moist, forested environment provides habitat for numerous insect and invertebrate species, though specific examples are not provided in the available sources.<ref name="inference" />

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.<ref name="otways" />


== Notable residents ==

⚫
* [[Cliff Young (athlete)|Cliff Young]], winner of the 1983 Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon at the age of 61


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}{{unreferenced}}
{{reflist}}

⚫
{{Victoria-geo-stub}}
==External links==
⚫
[[Category:Towns in Victoria]]
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070810002133/http://walkabout.com.au/locations/VICBeechForest.shtml Walkabout Travel Guide] – Beech Forest
* [http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=136&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=90006 Bureau of Meteorology Daily Rainfall] – Beech Forest

{{Towns in Colac Otway Shire}}

{{authority control}}

⚫
[[Category:Towns in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Otway Ranges]]


⚫
{{BarwonSouthWest-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 08:24, 19 August 2024

Beech Forest
Victoria
Main street
Beech Forest is located in Colac Otway Shire
Beech Forest
Beech Forest
Coordinates38°38′0″S 143°34′0″E / 38.63333°S 143.56667°E / -38.63333; 143.56667
Population82 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3237
Location
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:

Other significant tree species include:

The understory is rich in ferns, including:

Other plants found in the cool temperate rainforest include:

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]

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. Edit this at Wikidata
  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
[edit]

Media related to Beech Forest, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons


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