Town by town snapshot: Winchelsea

The size of the Winchelsea district is approximately 247.5 square kilometres.

The population of Winchelsea in 2011 was 1,955 people and by the 2016 Census the population was 1,955 showing the population stable in the area during that time.

Since that time, Winch has been experiencing a treechange shift with many newcomers choosing to make this well serviced country town home.

Several new housing estates are underway, with more in the pipeline, as the benefits of living a semi-rural lifestyle within an easy commute to Geelong, Melbourne and the coast, hit home with young families and retirees.

Two years after the settlement of Melbourne, the Austin brothers took up their Barwon Park pastoral run, Thomas Armytage took up his Ingleby run and Henry Hopkins took up his Wormbete run in the Winchelsea area.

On the track at the Barwon River crossing the Barwon Inn was opened in 1842, and an Anglican church and school were opened in 1846.

A town was surveyed in the 1850s, and named Winchelsea, probably after the seaside port in Sussex, England.

Winchelsea village gained a few stores, a school (1854), an Anglican vicarage and a cricket club (1858).

More momentous things happened at Austin’s Barwon Park when he imported wild rabbits for acclimatisation in 1859.

They became particularly successful progenitors of some of Australia’s rabbit plagues.

In 1860 the Winchelsea Road District was proclaimed and became Winchelsea Shire on 27 May 1864 and during the next decade land became available for farm selections.

During the 1970’s outlying township areas were developed for rural/residential living, and the population grew.