From a rich maritime history to a promising present, there’s a reason that Port Fairy keeps popping up on short lists of the most exciting towns in all of Australia. Located a four hour drive from Melbourne right on the southwestern coast of Australia, the small town has been around in one form or another for over 200 years, and was an important location for the indigenous Aborigine people for long before that. It really came into its own once various fishermen started to use it as a port, with the whaling industry using it as a major jumping off point during the 19th century and the seal trappers flocked to the town after that. During its beginning, Port Fairy might have been a small fishing village, but it was rarely quiet. From the rowdy fishermen whooping it up after time on the water to the dramatic cries of wives waiting for their husbands to return from the sea, Port Fairy was always a place where plenty was happening, if only on a small scale.
Today, Port Fairy still enjoys a very small population around 3,000 year round inhabitants and a booming fishing industry. But things are poised to change, with more and more visitors heading to town each year. Somehow, so far, things have stayed relaxed and peaceful. Port Fairy remains a quaint fishing village, with the original houses that whalers and seal trappers lived in still standing alongside newer developments, the 200 year old lighthouse still guiding boats safely ashore, and fishermen still unloading epic catches of everything from abalone to sharks. For foodies, this small village is a dream come true, one of the only places on earth where today’s catch is actually fresh from the sea literally, only hours before.
A stroll through the town’s wide streets means the chance to see one of the 50 perfectly preserved historical buildings, including the oldest building in all of Victoria. Walks along the beach by the lighthouse are equally popular with visitors, and it’s no wonder why after you see the view that’s available. Thankfully, with all of the tourists the options for Port Fairy accommodations still lean very heavily towards mom and pop inns and romantic bed & breakfasts with the waves crashing to shore just outside of the hotel room, within earshot of couples who needed to get out of the city for some rich and invigorating sea air.
Exploring Port Fairy can mean a number of different things. It can mean an afternoon in one of the seafront cafes, eavesdropping on local’s conversations and enjoying a delicious plate of food. It can mean a stroll along the water with a camera ready to take pictures, or it can mean a day of golf over at The Port Fairy Golf Club. Those interested in spotting wildlife can head to Tower Hill, where the nature reserve boasts a variety of animals, or going for a cruise out to Lady Julie Percy Island, where seals still flock in droves. And as the home of one of the biggest music festivals in all of Australia, The Port Fairy Folk Festival, the town sees its fair share of music loving visitors who want nothing more than to make some noise and enjoy some great music until the wee hours under the stars.
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