There are a number of books detailing the history of Colac and the surrounding district:
Hebb, Isaac (1852-1939). The history of Colac and district, Hawthorn Press 1970, pp.404
Hebb, Isaac A further history of Colac and district, Colac and District Historical Society 2012, pp.216, ISBN 978 0 646 58878 0
McIntosh, Ida Forest lake and plain The history of Colac 1888 – 1988, Hargren Publishing 1988, pp.200, ISBN 0 949905 36 4
McCormick, R J ‘ready for the plough’ History of the Colac Shire Council 1864-1994, Colac Shire Council 1998 pp.158 ISBN 0 646 36495 2
Houghton, Norman A land of milk and onions The rise and fall of mixed dairy farming in the Colac Otway Shire, self published 2013 pp.55
O’Donell, Jennifer F Coragulac, self published 2021 pp.146 ISBN 978 0 9925327 7 1
Some of the agricultural history has been recorded and can be found in these publications:
Donati, Laura Cororooke : a dairy factory 1901-2013 Fonterra Co-operative Group, 2013 pp.119 ISBN 9781921488306
Burns, Shirley Onion people A history of onions in Victoria, self published 2006 pp.76
Houghton, Norman Peas in the pod A history of pea growing in Colac and district, self published 2017 pp.19
The railway history is detailed in this short pamphlet:
The Royal Train leaving Flinders Street station for Alvie October 1934 - PROV
Further information about the plants, animals, ecology, geology and geomorphology of this unusual part of Australia can be found on this page.
There is some information about the Gulidjan here.
Most of the publications listed above can be purchased at Blanes Newsagency in Colac.
The Victorian Places website has information about most of the small towns in the district. More local information can be found on
Otway.biz and the Colac Otway Shire Council website. Tourist information is here.