Lara District

What secrets lie hidden in plain sight? Here in the Lara District, history whispers from every corner. This unassuming town, nestled between the bustling cities of Melbourne and Geelong, boasts a captivating past waiting to be unearthed. Lara District wasn’t always a peaceful haven for commuters. The explorers Hume and Hovell, believing they had reached Westernport Bay, first set foot here in 1824. They recorded the Aboriginal names for the area: “Jullong” for the bay and “Corago” for the land, hinting at the origin of the names Geelong and Corio. Lara itself began as “Duck Ponds,” a name that vividly portrays the region’s early landscape. A lake, roughly 15 hectares in size, dominated the area, teeming with waterfowl. The name “Lara” emerged in 1853, possibly derived from an Aboriginal word meaning “stone” or “building of stones.”
The town’s history is etched into its buildings, like the Lara Museum. Housed in the former Lake Bank Hotel, a 19th-century structure built by a Scottish immigrant, the museum stands as a testament to Lara’s past. Lara District has weathered its share of challenges, from floods to devastating grass fires. One such fire, in 1969, tragically claimed 18 lives and left a trail of destruction, razing homes, a church, and Lara Lake school. The once-prominent lake is now a testament to the town’s resilience, transformed into a recreation reserve and wetland. Today, Lara District thrives as a blend of old and new. It holds the stories of its past close, evident in its historic buildings and the echoes of Aboriginal names. As you wander through the Lara District, remember, you’re walking through time itself.