Cressy and its beginnings... The area of Cressy was discovered in about 1836 when George Russell from Leigh District reported that there was some fine inland country and wrote “our journey took us over a track of treeless, windswept plains with a few lakes scattered around but they were mostly salt. There was only one river across this plain and we found a place to cross”. A Frenchman, Jean Duverney came to Australia in 1837 and crossed the river at the same place and later decided to take up land on each side of the Woady Yaloak River, which became known as Frenchman’s Run. As there was much bullock and horse traffic crossing the river they decided to set up a rest house and with an increase in patrons they obtained a liquor licence.
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Cressy
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The government Gazette in February 1852 quoted “a site has been fixed for a village Cressy (named after Duverney’s home town in France) on the Woady Yoloak near the Frenchman’s Inn, on the main road to Elephant Bridge and Port Fairy”. 10 11
To make the most of your visit, contact the Colac Otway Visitor Information Centres. P:
1300 OTWAYS (689 297)
W: www.visitapollobay.com www.visitotways.com
Discovery Trail
Points of Interest 1
Honour Rolls
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Presbyterian Church – Cressy Historical Centre
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Mosaic Couch
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Frenchman’s Inn
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Ford
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Duverney Street
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RAAF Base
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Avenue of Honour
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Railway Station
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Education in Cressy
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Cressy Bridge
Cressy
Discovery Trail
The Cressy History Centre is open the first Sunday of each month from 2 - 4pm (except December & January) For more information please visit www.colacfamilyhistory.org.au/cressy