Warrnambool is a regional city of around 32,000 people on the south-western coast of Victoria, Australia, located in the municipality City of Warrnambool. It is at the western end of the Great Ocean Road, but is more quickly reached along the Princes Highway, 265 kilometres and 3 hours from Melbourne by road or rail.

History

The word Warrnambool comes from the local Aboriginal name for a nearby mountain range. It has been interpreted to mean many things including “water between two rivers”, "two swamps" or "ample water".
The treacherous coast near the city is known as the "Shipwreck Coast" and evidence suggests the first ships to arrive were among the earliest international explorers. The legend of the Mahogany Ship is strongly linked to the city.

Many believe the first Europeans to discover the area were Portugese sailors, who surveyed the coastline nearby and possibly marooned near the site of the present town as early as the 1500s. French explorer Nicholas Baudin recorded coastal landmarks in 1802. The area was frequented by whalers early in the 19th century. Matthew Flinders sailed the coast in the Investigator, and Captain Grant in the Lady Nelson also explored the area.
The first settlers arrived in the 1840s in the Lady Bay area, which was a natural harbour. The area was first surveyed in 1846.
During the Victorian Gold Rush, Warrnambool became an important port and grew quickly in the 1850s, benefiting from the private ownership of nearby Port Fairy.

It was gazetted as a municipality in 1855. It became a borough in 1863. Warrnambool was declared a town in 1883, and a city in 1918.

Climate

Warrnambool has a moderate climate with an average maximum summer temperature of 22°C, while the average winter maximum is 14°C.

Media

Warrnambool has a daily local newspaper, The Standard, which covers the entire south west of Victoria. It also has two commercial radio stations, 3YB 882KHz and Coast FM 95.3Mhz ; a community radio station - 3WAY FM 103.7 Mhz and ABC radio as well commercial and ABC television reception.

Transport

Warrnambool has daily rail services,( early morning, midday and evening) to and from Melbourne, also coach services to Ballarat, Hamilton and Mount Gambier.

Helicopter and light aircraft flights are also available by charter.
A number of car rental agencies are located in Warrnambool and a public bus system operated by Transit services most areas of the City, with hourly circuits.
A local tour service is also available.

Time

Warrnambool has Eastern Standard Time, as does Melbourne (Victoria) and Sydney (NSW). Clocks advance by one hour between November and March for daylight savings.
Commerce & Industry
Warrnambool is a comprehensive regional service centre. Major industries and services include retail, tourism, education, health, dairy, meat processing, clothing manufacture and construction.

Education

The City's main education centres include Deakin University (Warrnambool Campus), the South West Institute of TAFE, Government and private primary and secondary schools, and pre-school centres.