Lake Bolac Hotel constructed in 1862 following the establishment of a 'shanty' on the same site by James Brown in 1856. James Brown originally established a "shanty" in 1856, then built a wooden hotel and then erected the current bluestone hotel in 1862. It is made from locally quarried bluestone. In early years the hotel served the community for church services, as a barber-shop and as a morgue.

Application was made for a mixed school known as Parupa Common School in 1865. Building by Robert Pitkethley commenced in 1867. The name was changed to Lake Bolac State School No. 854 in 1870. The school was bluestone with galvanised iron roof. 30ft x 18ft x 10ft high with teacher residence attached. The building was used from 1867 to 1925 when it was sold for removal. Photograph shows Teacher William Bartlett and students in 1893.

The Blacksmith Shop was built c.1865 by Mr Child. It was purchased by his employee Josiah McNickle Park in 1869, who began the business of J.Park & Son Blacksmith & Wheelwright. It is constructed from bluestone and weatherboard. Photograph shows 7 men, 3 horses and assorted tools.

black and white photograph

Photograph of Lake Bolac Flax Mill boiler house and pits in full production. The mill operated between 1942 and 1959 and was located on the shores of Lake Bolac. Local farmers grew flax which was transported into the factory to be processed. The mill employed Land Army girls, locals and migrant workers.Photograph of Lake Bolac Flax Mill boiler house and pits in full production.

Members of the Lake Bolac Light Horse on parade at their encampment beside the Hopkins River at Warrnambool. On left, Charles Geddes, Lewis Wills, 4th from left, James Geddes 5th and JT Murray, 2nd from right.lake bolac light horse, hopkins river, warrnambool, geddes, murray, wills

Second Lake Bolac Bush Nursing Centre, Glenelg Highway, Lake Bolac. 1933-1957.lake bolac, bush nursing centre

Lake Bolac Post Office Glenelg Highway. Initially the Post Office was established at the Store in 1868. This official weatherboard building was opened in 1887 incorporating a telegraph office, money order office and post office savings bank. The Post Office business was relocated in 1944 and the building was used as a private residence with the front room leased to Dennys Lascelles. Note the horse hitching rail and kerosene street light.Photograph depicting a weatherboard building across a road. The building is fenced. In front of the building there is a telegraphic or electric post and a lamp post.lake bolac, post office, glenelg highway, dennys lascelles

Stacking flax on J.T. Murray's property at Lake Bolac as there was no more room on the Lake Bolac Flax Mill site. Pictured are Joe Bassett, J.T. Murray and his boys, Ewen, Alister and George.lake bolac, flax mill, murray, bassett

Photograph of the first Lake Bolac Hall built in 1896. It was located in Montgomery Street between the Hotel and Park's Blacksmith Shop. It was later re-located across the street to form the supper room of the Lake Bolac Memorial Hall built in 1922.black and white photographlake bolac, hall, supper room, memorial

Lake Bolac Post Office, original building, 1919.lake bolac, posr office, 1919

Locals gathering near Lake Bolac with their horses and greyhounds , circa 1900.lake bolac, coursing

Lake Bolac. Swimming at the 1st beach on the north side of the lake in 1946.lake bolac, swimming, 1946

Lake Bolac twins, Don and Frank Graham in their vintage perambulator, 1912.lake bolac, graham, perambulator.

Lake Bolac family, the Knight children: Gladys, George and Arthur 'Jim".lake bolac, knight

Mr Charlie Williamson standing in front of his Lake Bolac Butcher's shop.lake bolac, williamson, butcher

Lake Bolac Croquet Club members at "Bellevue", the home of Mr & Mrs Bert Moreton, circa 1940.lake bolac, croquet, bellevue, moreton

Red gum diving board and pontoon at the second swimming beach on the north side of Lake Bolac, circa 1935.lake bolac, swimming , diving board, pontoon, 1935.

Loading wool bales onto a horse-drawn wagon at "Eilyer", Lake Bolac. Note the 'trolley and pull' manual method.lake bolac, eilyer, loading wool

A Lake Bolac District representative cricket team outside the London Hotel in Hamilton, Victoria in 1882. Driver, E. McMillen.lake bolac, london hotel, hamilton, cricket, 1882

Lake Bolac - Farming at "Fintry". Jack Barnes driving team of semi-draughts with Robinson Big E harvester, 1932.lake bolac, farming, fintry, barnes, robinson harvester, 1032

"Bellevue" Flax Day at Lake Bolac in 1946. Pictured from left are Fred Hucker, Alan Hucker and Sam Hucker.lake bolac, flax, "bellevue", hucker

Edward and MaryAnn Rowley were pioneer settlers at Lake Bolac, taking up land in 1862. Their children were Sarah, Elizabeth, Maryanne, Deborah, Emily, Ellen, Eliza, Emma, Martha and Edward. The change-over station for stage coaches, including Cobb and C., and paddocks for resting horses, were on their property. The farm was later bought by J.T. Murray. The family are interred in the Lake Bolac Cemetery.lake bolac, rowley, pioneer settlers, 1862, murray, cobb and co.

This photograph of Lake Bolac was taken at the northern, Glenelg Highway end of the lake near the property known as 'Lakeview' - the O'Rorke Family home.Black and white photographlake bolac, glenelg highway, lakeview, mr o'rorke

Racing cars parked outside the blue-stone Public house at the cross-roads, Lake Bolac. Local spectators have gathered to admire and learn.lake bolac, car racing

St Bernard's Roman Catholic Church, Lake Bolac. Built by Robert Pitkethley on the west bank of the lake and completed in 1874. It was consecrated by Bishop Gould of Melbourne.st bernard's roman catholic church, lake bolac, pitkethley, bishop gould

St Mark's Anglican Church, Lake Bolac, It was built in 1958 and deconsecrated in 2017. Early Vicars were Mr Williams, Mr Horner and Mr Esperson.st mark's anglican church, lake bolac, williams, horner, esperson

Horse being held in a hoof-bath to counter stable hoof-rot. "Bellevue", Lake Bolac, circa 1910. Hugh O'Rorke on right and David Clarke, at back.lake bolac, horse hoof-bath, "bellevue", clarke, o'rorke.

James Wills of "Fintry" Lake Bolac carting bags of wheat with his International truck which was purchased for Goodall's, Mortlake. The truck was able to carry 35 bags of wheat.lake bolac, fintry, wills, internation truck, goodall, mortlake