Sea Lake, Victoria

Sea Lake is the commercial centre for surrounding mixed farmland and salt works.
Location: 70km west of Swan Hill on the Calder Highway; 80km east of the South Australian border. Map
Origin of name: takes its name from the nearby dody of saltwater, Lake Tyrrell, rather than any perceived proximity to the sea.
Brief history: Tyrrell Downs run was established by W.E. Stanbridge, the manager of the East Charlton run in 1847. The property was bought by E.H. Lascelles in 1884, as part of his plan to render the Mallee fit for agriculture. He hired a hundred men to clear the land then floated a public company to raise capital, thereby establishing one of the largest wheat farms in the world. The company went well for a while, but pests and drought ate away at the venture and the farm was eventually broken up and sold to smaller selectors.
Natural features: Lake Tyrrell; Green Lake; Lake Wahpool; Lake Timboram