Tidal River, Victoria

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Tidal River
Victoria
Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory - Mar 2012.jpg
Tidal River and the camp ground looking south
Australia Victoria South Gippsland Shire location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Tidal River
Location in South Gippsland Shire
Coordinates 39°01′50″S146°19′17″E / 39.03056°S 146.32139°E / -39.03056; 146.32139 Coordinates: 39°01′50″S146°19′17″E / 39.03056°S 146.32139°E / -39.03056; 146.32139
Postcode(s) 3959
Elevation5 m (16 ft)
Location
LGA(s) South Gippsland Shire
State electorate(s) Gippsland South
Federal Division(s) Monash

Tidal River is a locality in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, Australia. It contains the main park administration and service centres as well as a permanent camping ground that takes its name from the Tidal River, which flows past the camping ground to the north.

Wilsons Promontory National Park Protected area in Victoria, Australia

The Wilsons Promontory National Park, commonly known as Wilsons Prom or The Prom, is a national park in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, located approximately 157 kilometres (98 mi) southeast of Melbourne.

Victoria (Australia) State in Australia

Victoria is a state in south-eastern Australia. Victoria is Australia's smallest mainland state and its second-most populous state overall, making it the most densely populated state overall. Most of its population lives concentrated in the area surrounding Port Phillip Bay, which includes the metropolitan area of its state capital and largest city, Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. Victoria is bordered by Bass Strait and Tasmania to the south, New South Wales to the north, the Tasman Sea, to the east, and South Australia to the west.

Australia Country in Oceania

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 25 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

Contents

History

Tidal River was originally established as an army commando training base during World War Two, operating from 1940 to 1942. [1] At the end of the war, the previous National Park ranger station, chalet and camping area at Darby River was in such poor condition that it was not returned to use, but instead, remaining army buildings at Tidal River were adapted and reused for staff and visitor accommodation. In about 1950 the former Darby River ranger's cottage was relocated to Tidal River, leaving the Tidal River and Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse the only permanently inhabited parts of the park. [2]

Darby River, Victoria Town in Victoria, Australia

Darby River is a locality in Gippsland in southeastern Victoria, Australia. Located within Wilson's Promontory National Park, it was the location of the original park entrance, ranger station and accommodation centre from 1909 until the Second World War. Often referred to just as The Darby, it was the location of the National Park Committee of Management Rooms from about 1909, a Ranger's cottage from 1913, and the 'Chalet' for tourist accommodation from 1923. The Chalet began as a small 6 room building and expanded to more than 24 accommodation rooms, kitchen, dining hall, bathrooms and the like. During World War Two the area was the site of the Headquarters Camp of the No 7 Commando Training Centre. At this time large numbers of huts and tents were erected and the Chalet was taken over for the Officers Mess. Following the war most of the buildings were removed or fell into disrepair and were demolished. The Ranger's House was moved to Tidal River.

Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse lighthouse in Victoria, Australia

Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse is situated on South East Point, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, Australia. From its point on the peninsula, it commands almost 360° views of Bass Strait. The Wilson's Promontory lighthouse is the southernmost lighthouse on mainland Australia, and is approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi) from the nearest town, Tidal River. Dormitory-style accommodation is available in the lighthouse.

The campground and facilities

Tidal River is the main location for accommodation and camping in Wilsons Promontory National Park. Tidal River Campground has 484 camping and caravan sites (including 20 powered sites) situated near the beach and river. [3] There are also 11 remote walk-in sites located within the park.

Tidal River campground is nestled in sand dunes behind Norman Bay, on the western side of the peninsula. The only access road open to visitors leads from Yanakie at the park entrance to Tidal River, a distance of 32 km.

Yanakie, Victoria Town in Victoria, Australia

Yanakie is a small, coastal township and district on the Yanakie Isthmus in South Gippsland, in the state of Victoria, south-eastern Australia.

When fully occupied, the settlement of Tidal River swells to over 2,000 people. There is a visitor centre open daily, a general store with an extensive range of products, fish and chippery and café. The outdoor cinema, established in the late 1940s, is a nostalgic favourite amongst summer campers who will sometimes line up for over an hour before tickets can be bought so they can save a seat in the front row with a blanket. There is no service station or fuel available at the campsite.

During summer a ballot is held to allocate sites from Christmas until late January. Regardless of the time of year, all accommodation must be pre-booked. [3]

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References

  1. No. 7 Infantry Training Centre For Commandos
  2. Garnet, J. Roslyn, (with additional chapters by Terry Synan and Daniel Catrice) A History of Wilsons Promontory, Published by the Victorian National Parks Association
  3. 1 2 "Parks Victoria - Tidal River campground". parkweb.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 20 June 2015.