Beech Forest, Victoria

The 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. Beech Forest Primary School opened on 29 July 1895 as Weeaproinah State School. It briefly closed in October 1900 after being unable to continue to lease the rented school building and reopened in another building "on the main Otway Ridge" in 1901. The second building burned down around 1910, at which time it moved to its final, permanent site and changed its name to Beech Forest. Many families shifted to the Lavers Hill Consolidated School when it opened in 1953; however, the school remained open as a number of Beech Forest parents refused to move. The school closed on 1 January 1981. The 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 between Beech Forest and Colac. == Flora ==

The forest is primarily characterized by: • Myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), the namesake of the forest Other significant tree species include: • Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) • Mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) • Californian redwoods (Sequoia sp.), planted in 1939 The understory is rich in ferns, including: • Soft tree-fern (Dicksonia antarctica) • Cyathea australis • Blechnum wattsii • Polystichum proliferum Other plants found in the cool temperate rainforest include: • Hedycarya angustifolia • Olearia argophylla • Pimelea axiflora • Pomaderris aspera • Prostanthera lasianthos • Tasmannia lanceolata Epiphytes, such as fork-ferns, filmy ferns, and orchids, are common in the humid microclimate created by the tree-fern layer. == Fauna ==

The diverse forest ecosystem supports various animal species: Mammals • Medium-sized browsers like wombats and wallabies • Small ground insectivores and omnivores, including antechinus and native rats • Arboreal species (likely possums and gliders) Insects and other invertebrates The moist, forested environment provides habitat for numerous insect and invertebrate species, though specific examples are not provided in the available sources. 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. == Notable residents ==

• Cliff Young, winner of the 1983 Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon at the age of 61 ==References==