Victoria location profile
Colac VIC 3250
Colac is a regional centre in the Colac Otway Shire, known for its lakefront setting, heritage streetscapes and strong community feel. It serves as a service hub for nearby farming and forestry areas and a gateway to the Otways and Great Ocean Road.
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Why families consider Colac
A family-friendly, working and middle-income community with a mix of trades, agriculture, manufacturing, health and education workers, plus retirees and young families. Lifestyle is relaxed and outdoorsy around Lake Colac, with affordable housing, local events and strong sporting culture.
Amenities & services
- Colac Central Shopping Centre
- Murray Street retail and dining precinct
- Coles, Woolworths and ALDI supermarkets
- Colac Area Health (hospital) and medical clinics
- Cafes, pubs and restaurants along Murray Street
- Colac Library & Learning Centre – 173 Queen St, Colac
Transport & connectivity
- Colac railway station (V/Line Warrnambool line)
- V/Line coach services to Apollo Bay/Great Ocean Road and Geelong/Ballarat
- Local town buses (Christian's Bus Company) around Colac–Elliminyt
- Princes Highway (A1)
- Colac–Lorne Road (C151)
- Colac–Ballarat Road (C146)
Lifestyle & recreation
- Lake Colac foreshore walking/cycling trails and boating
- Bluewater Leisure Centre (pool and gym)
- Central Reserve (football/cricket)
- Colac Golf Club
- COPACC – Colac Otway Performing Arts & Cultural Centre
- Colac Botanic Gardens
- Memorial Square
- Lake Colac Foreshore Reserve
- Barongarook Creek Reserve
- Eastern Reserve
Education context
Multiple long day care centres, kindergartens and family day care options; generally good availability outside peak infant rooms, with shorter wait times than metropolitan areas.
- Deakin University – Waurn Ponds Campus (Geelong)
- Deakin University – Waterfront Campus (Geelong CBD)
- Federation University – Mt Helen Campus (Ballarat)