Marriners Falls
| Marriners Falls | |
|---|---|
 Marriners Falls | |
  Location within Victoria | |
| Location | Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 38°42′05″S 143°38′30″E / 38.701474°S 143.641667°E |
| Type | Plunge |
| Total height | 7.17 m (23.5 ft) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| Watercourse | Falls Creek |
Marriners Falls is a waterfall located within the Otway Ranges, outside of the town of Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia. The waterfall consists of a singular plunge, at a height of 7.17 metres (23.5 ft). The track to the waterfall has been closed since 2011, as Parks Victoria deemed it at risk of falling trees.[1][2] Since the closure, members of the local community, with the support of the Colac Otway Shire, have attempted to approach the Victorian Government to fund a new track to the waterfall,[3][4] with some defying the closure.[5]
History
[edit]The falls are most likely named after Edward Marriner. Edward was born on 28 May 1861 at Portarlington, before moving to Apollo Bay (then known as 'Krambruk') in the early 1900s, to a home called "The Springs", and was a fisherman by trade. He died aged 85, on 20 January 1947.
In 2005, a group of five visitors walked to the top of the waterfall, and could not get down, resulting in them being recovered by rescue crews.[6]
In 2008, a visitor was seriously injured by a falling tree.[4]
In 2011, Parks Victoria, the managing authority of the area around the waterfall, deemed that the risk of falling trees was unacceptable after a report into the shallowness of tree roots and thin soil coverage alongside the track, and closed the track to the waterfall, and remains closed to the present day.[4][1]
In 2014, a visitor broke their ankle while walking to the waterfall.[4] Later that year, Brett and Caterina Morrison were married at the waterfall.[7] Also that year, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning conducted another report, finding the risk of tree fall enduring.[4]
Community lobbying led to Parks Victoria conducting a third report into the track safety, with Parks Victoria ultimately maintaining the closure, due to the continuing risk of falling trees.[3]
In 2018, Colac Otway Shire, after a reignition of lobbying from members of the community to reopen the falls, expressed their support for reopening the track to the waterfall, and attempted to contact the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Car, Anthony (2021). Waterfalls of the Otway Ranges (1 ed.). Victoria, Australia: Anthony Car. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-646-83170-1.
- ↑ Martin, Alison (26 June 2015). "Tourist track stays closed after report". Colac Herald. Colac Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- 1 2 Fowles, Shane (28 March 2018). "Colac Otway Shire looking for way to get Marriner's Falls track reopened". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, James (18 April 2018). "Time for Marriners falls to re open". Times News Group. Times News Group. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ McGillicuddy, Devon (9 July 2014). "Family defies waterfalls' closure for special visit". Colac Herald. Colac Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ "Hikers stranded at Mariners Falls". Australian Broadcasting Coorporation. Australian Broadcasting Coorporation. 9 January 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ "Falls an ideal wedding venue". Colac Herald. Colac Herald. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes" (PDF). Colac Otway Shire. Colac Otway Shire. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
