Paynesville, Victoria
| Paynesville Victoria | |
|---|---|
 Paynesville from the water | |
  Paynesville | |
| Coordinates | 37°55′0″S 147°43′0″E / 37.91667°S 147.71667°E |
| Population | 3,636 (2021 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 3880 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of East Gippsland |
| State electorate(s) | Gippsland East |
| Federal division(s) | Gippsland |
Paynesville is a resort town in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 census, Paynesville had a population of 3,636. The town is located 293 kilometres (182 mi) by road east of the state capital, Melbourne. It is known as the boating capital of Victoria.[2]
History
[edit]Paynesville was originally called Toonalook, which is an Aboriginal name for "place of many fish"[citation needed]. The post office opened on 8 November 1879 as Toonalook and was renamed Paynesville in 1886 by the Dickson family, who still reside in the area.[3]
Raymond Island
[edit]Raymond Island is a small island accessible via the Raymond Island Ferry. The island is predominantly residential and is well known for its large koala population. It has been at the centre of occasional local debate over the construction of a bridge to allow for better access and further development.[citation needed]
Sport
[edit]Paynesville is also well represented in the sporting arena, with sailing, bowls, tennis and netball clubs in the town, as well as a thriving local football and cricket club, the latter having won back to back Grand Finals in the Bairnsdale Cricket Association for 2007 and 2008. The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the East Gippsland Football League. The team last won a premiership in 2013.[4]
The Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC),[5] based in Paynesville, conducts sail training and sailability programs.
Fishing
[edit]Paynesville is located on the eastern end of Lake Victoria, near Lake King, two of the larger Gippsland Lakes and is a good launching point for exploring the lakes. It provided access to some of the best fishing to be found in Victoria, however, fish stocks have been significantly depleted through over-fishing, nutrient run-off and destruction of sea-grass habitat.[6]
Tourism
[edit]Other tourist attractions in the area include:
- Paynesville Maritime Museum
- Raymond Island - well known locally for its large koala population.
- Ninety Mile Beach - accessible by boat from the town.
- The Lakes National Park
Nearby towns include Bairnsdale, Metung, Eagle Point, and Lakes Entrance.
Education
[edit]The town is served by Paynesville Primary School[7] and Paynesville Uniting Kindergarten[8]
Carey Baptist Grammar School has an outdoor education camp near Paynesville called Camp Toonallook.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Paynesville (Vic.) (State Suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Home page - Paynesville Business and Tourism Association".
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 12 March 2021
- ^ Full Points Footy, Paynesville, retrieved 25 July 2008
- ^ "Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club – East Gippsland". Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Harris, Professor Graham. "A dying shame - Australian coastal freshwater lakes". Australian Government, Department of the Environment. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ "VICNAMES - The Register of Geographic Names". maps.land.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Paynesville Uniting Kindergarten - Childcare & Early Learning Centres Victoria & Tasmania | Uniting Vic.Tas". earlylearning.unitingvictas.org.au. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Camp Toonallook". Carey Baptist Grammar School. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
External links
[edit]- Official East Gippsland tourism website
Paynesville, Victoria travel guide from Wikivoyage
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2008) |