Waratah Bay
Late last century South Walkerville was the site of a thriving limestone industry, the remains of the kilns, jetty and the pioneer cemetery can still he seen.
Location: 190 km from Melbourne.
Origin of name: in 1892 the name of the town of Waratah was changed to Walkerville, according to some reports to avoid confusion with a town of the same name in New South Wales. It is believed to be named after the man who purchased the limeworks here in 1884.
Brief history: from 1878 until 1926, the township of Waratah (now Walkerville South), on the western shores of Waratah Bay in South Gippsland, was the location of a significant limestone quarry and lime production industry involving six kilns and employing up to 80 men. The lime produced at Walkerville was mainly shipped to Melbourne but some went to Gippsland and occasionally to Sydney. Lime from Waratah is said to have been used in the preparation of mortar for Melbourne's Flinders Street Station. One of at least ten large vessels have been shipwrecked in the area.
Natural features: Southern Ocean; Bass Strait; Waratah Bay; Cape Liptrap Coastal Park; Wilsons Promontory
Built features: Cape Liptrap lighthouse (1913) | alternate
Heritage features: Walkerville lime kiln ruins
