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Beech Forest is a town in Victoria, Australia. The area of Beech Forest is largely used for potato farming.
| Beech Forest Victoria | |||||||||||||||
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 Main street | |||||||||||||||
  Beech Forest | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 38°38′0″S 143°34′0″E / 38.63333°S 143.56667°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 82 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3237 | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Colac Otway Shire | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Polwarth | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Corangamite | ||||||||||||||
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History
editThe town was named after the many myrtle beech trees of the area. Beech Forest Post Office opened on 10 May 1890 and closed in 1994.[2]
Infrastructure
editThe town had a railway station on the Crowes railway line from 1902 until 1962. Much of the route of the old railway has been converted to the Old Beechy Rail Trail, via which cyclists and walkers can travel 45 kilometres (28 mi) between Beech Forest and Colac.
Flora
editThe forest is primarily characterized by:
- Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), the namesake of the forest[3]
Other significant tree species include:
- Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
- Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans)
- Californian Redwoods (Sequoia sp.), planted in 1939[4]
The understory is rich in ferns, including:
- Soft Tree-fern (Dicksonia antarctica)
- Cyathea australis
- Blechnum wattsii
- Polystichum proliferum[3]
Other plants found in the cool temperate rainforest include:
- Hedycarya angustifolia
- Olearia argophylla
- Pimelea axiflora
- Pomaderris aspera
- Prostanthera lasianthos
- Tasmannia lanceolata[3]
Epiphytes, such as fork-ferns, filmy ferns, and orchids, are common in the humid microclimate created by the tree-fern layer.[3]
Fauna
editThe diverse forest ecosystem supports various animal species:
Mammals
edit- Medium-sized browsers like wombats and wallabies
- Small ground insectivores and omnivores, including antechinus and native rats
- Arboreal species (likely possums and gliders)[3]
Birds
editWhile specific bird species are not detailed in the available sources, the diverse forest ecosystem likely supports a variety of bird species typical of Victorian rainforests.[5]
Insects and other invertebrates
editThe moist, forested environment provides habitat for numerous insect and invertebrate species, though specific examples are not provided in the available sources.[5]
The Beech Forest area is known for its beautiful waterfalls and scenic drives, which contribute to the overall biodiversity of the region. The unique combination of aspect, soils, and climate in the Otway hinterland creates a distinctive ecosystem that supports this rich variety of plant and animal life.[4]
Notable residents
edit- Cliff Young, winner of the 1983 Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon at the age of 61
References
edit- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Beech Forest (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 29 March 2021
- ^ a b c d e "Great Otway National Park". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Beech Forest". Visit Otways. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b Inferred based on typical rainforest ecosystems in Victoria
External links
edit
Media related to Beech Forest, Victoria at Wikimedia Commons
- Walkabout Travel Guide – Beech Forest
- Bureau of Meteorology Daily Rainfall – Beech Forest
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