Orbost Town Walk
The Orbost Town Walk can be done in 1-2 hours or as a drive (30 mins - 1 hour).
Orbost Town Walk Map
Start your walk or drive at the Slab Hut /Visitor Information Centre. This is an original settlers home which was relocated to this site in 1987. Information on the history of the hut and Orbost can be found inside.
Behind is the Orbost Exhibition Centre, opened December 2004. Which is opened to bus tours by appointment.
Turn left and travel down Clarke Street. As you walk west, on the right is the Masonic Lodge which was built in 1925, on land which was donated by Sir William Clarke.
Turn right at the corner of Clarke Street and Forest Road. On the left you will see the old Butter Factory. This was the second Butter factory in Orbost. This building was erected in 1916, and as well as the facilities for butter and cheese making, it housed a generator that supplied electricity to the town for many years. This is also the site where the Paddle Steamer Curlip II was constructed, the vessel is now sailing from Marlo.
To the left of the Butter Factory is the Old Pump Station which has served as an unofficial flood marker for the Snowy River floods dating back to the 1800’s.
From this point you may like turn left and extend your walk taking in the Snowy River Walk a very popular walk in keen bird watchers, or proceed along Forest Road, crossing B Road you will reach Sensory Garden. This was developed in 1993 as a Landcare Project for unemployed youth. The Garden Club now take care of the garden beds and have erected a tribute to Grace Jennings Carmicheal a talented poet who wrote “The Old Bush Road”.
Turn right into Salisbury Street and make your way up to the roundabout. The Memorial Clock Tower was built in the 1950’s as a memorial to the servicemen and women.
The Commonwealth Hotel can be seen on the corner. The original part of the building was built before federation in 1901.
Continue to walk south along Nicholson Street through the central business district. The streetscape was landscaped in 1988 as a bicentenary project. In 1999 it was further upgraded. This would be a good time to stop for lunch or coffee and cake!
Along this section of Nicholson St you will also find 15 story boards located on the footpaths which describe snapshots from our social & commercial past.
Travelling further south you will reach the Post Office. This building was originally opened in 1898 and completely rebuilt in its original style in 2008.
Diagonally across the intersection is the Club Hotel. This was the first hotel in Orbost. It was established in 1884.
Turn left into Ruskin Street. On your left is the Library and Museum. Drop in for a browse at the history of Orbost’s and surrounds.
Continue east along Ruskin Street to Browning Street. To the left is St Andrew’s Uniting church the original Presbyterian Church, built out of local timber in 1898.
On the opposite corner is St James Anglican Church, built in 1927 as a memorial for soldiers killed in world war one.
Turn right into Browning Street and across Raymond St to St Colmans Catholic Church.
Further along Browning Street on the left is Netherbyre Art & Gemstone Gallery, you may like to drop in and say hello to the welcoming hosts.
Now take a stroll through the man made rainforest. When you finished, cross over the road to Forest Park where you can stop for a picnic, or explore the magnificent Snowy River.
Don’t forget to have a look at the beautiful mosaic path and new flood marker situated within the park.
When finished take a short stroll up the hill back to the Slab Hut.
Location:
Start at the Orbost Visitor Information Centre (Slab Hut), 35 Nicholson Street, Orbost.
Location
35 Nicholson Street, Orbost 3888 View Map
