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Settled in 1842, the Orbost District has a rich history shaped by timber production, agriculture, dairy and beef farming on the fertile flats of the Snowy River, supporting a growing regional economy and the development of surrounding settlements. Early riverboats and steamers were part of everyday life for transport and trade. The district lies on Country traditionally cared for by First Nations communities, who maintain enduring cultural connections to the land, rivers and coastlines that continue today.
Encompassing a diverse and expansive landscape, the Orbost District stretches from forests and remote hinterlands near the New South Wales border to the coastal inlets and beaches of the East Gippsland coastline, including the Snowy River estuary. Following the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria, the district is undergoing a transition, reshaping its economic identity. Today, its natural resources and environments support agriculture, fisheries, recreation and tourism, contributing to a distinctive lifestyle and a strong sense of place.
Orbost District comprises of the following localities:
Bellbird Creek, Bemm River, Bete Bolong, Bete Bolong North, Brodribb River, Cabbage Tree Creek, Cape Conran, Corringle, Jarrahmond, Lochend, Manorina, Marlo, Murrungower, Newmerella, Nurran, Orbost, Sardine Creek, Simpsons Creek, Sydenham Inlet, Tabbera, Waygara, and Yalmy. The Errinundra to Snowy Sub-district includes Bendoc, Bonang, Goongerah, and Tubbut.
Orbost District Resources
Orbost District Place Plan:
A Place Plan is an easy-to-read guide that brings together the community’s vision and practical ideas with the work of Council and partners into one coordinated plan. Place Plans are currently being developed across East Gippsland Shire, a district at a time.
For more information about when the Orbost District will participate in this process, please visit YourSay East Gippsland.
Key documents:
For more information on the Coastal and Marine Management Plan, visit www.yoursay.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/coastal-and-marine-management-plan
See below for more information and resources on your locality.
Connect with Council Locally
Customer Service Centre and Library
1 Ruskin Street, Orbost
Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
Outreach library services can also be found at the Bemm River Neighbourhood House
Mobile Library:
The mobile library visits Bemm River, Cabbage Tree Creek, Newmerella, Orbost, Bendoc, Bonang, Delegate River, and Goongerah. For an up-to-date schedule, visit Mobile Libraries and Outreach Services.
Place Facilitator
Place Facilitators are Council officers who help support partnerships across community and Council.
Kathryn Macdonald - Place Facilitator Coordinator
M: 0433 988 983
Bemm River sits on the far eastern fringe of the Cape Conran Coastal Park. The township is nestled between the river, Syndenham Inlet and the ocean. It is popular with tourists, especially those seeking quality fishing.
Council-led Improvement Projects:
Community assets and facilities:
Cabbage Tree Creek is a small rural settlement east of Orbost, surrounded by farmland and bushland. The area is characterised by low‑density living and agricultural activity.
Cabbage Tree Creek Locality Snapshot
Community assets and facilities:
Cape Conran Coastal Park is accessible from Cabbage Tree Creek. See Parks Victoria for more information.
Errinundra to Snowy is a sub-district of the Orbost District. The northern edge of the sub-district is the border between Victoria and New South Wales and the East Gippsland and Snowy Monaro Shires. The area hosts two major national parks; The Snowy River National Park and the Errinundra National Park.
The Erinundra to Snowy sub-district was created given its remoteness from the Orbost township and its strong relationship with the NSW townships of Delegate and Bombala, which are the practical service towns for these communities. The Errinundra to Snowy Sub-district includes Bendoc, Bonang, Goongerah, and Tubbut.
For more information on the Errinundra to Snowy area and its localities, visit www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/community-plans/errinundra-to-snowy-sub-district
Marlo is a seaside town at the mouth of the Snowy River and the gateway to the Wilderness Coast. The towns waterways and beaches include the Snowy Inlet where the Snowy River flows into the Bass Straight.
Council-led Improvement Projects:
Community assets and facilities:
For more information on Marlo, visit www.visitmarlo.com.au
Cape Conran Coastal Park is accessible from Marlo. See Parks Victoria for more information.
Newmerella is a residential township located between Orbost and Marlo, close to the Snowy River. It hosts the annual Orbost Agricultural Show at the Newmerella Recreation Reserve.
Council-led Improvement Projects:
Community assets and facilities:
Orbost is the main service centre of the district, located on the Snowy River. The township supports surrounding rural communities with retail, health, education and civic services, and has a long history linked to forestry and agriculture.
Council-led Improvement Projects:
Community assets and facilities:
Services and agencies:
Community-led facilities
Open spaces and reserves:
Other
For more information on Orbost, visit www.orbostregion.com.au