RA I SOUTH GIPPSLAND

ish Creek is to Gippsland what Celia Rosser Gallery and Cafe. joyfully blue Flying Cow Cafe, which has and functional pieces wrought from Brunswick is to : colour - Botanic artist Celia, famed for her remark - simple, comforting fare – big breakfasts, salvaged and recycled farm junk: old cars MORE TAKE ful, creative, eclectic and happy to ably detailed watercolours of ’s creative cakes (including gluten-free op - and fridges, machinery parts, barbed wire Fish Creek doesn’t rate its own Fbe a bit different. banksia plants painstakingly painted over tions), hot soups and light lunches. and hand-worn timber. Gecko Studio website yet – Google the places Over the past decade, a series of 25 years for , shows Local produce is also on the menu at Gallery has an eclectic mix of art materi - mentioned and most will appear. pioneering artisans have made the town much of her own work as well as comple - Cafe K, and at the Fishy Pub (it’s the one als, gifts, cards, ceramics, jewellery, retro- For regional touring information, go to THE home, many attracted by the picture- mentary nature-inspired work by other with the big fish on the roof); aka the Fish inspired knick- knacks, and several walls www.promcountry.com.au. perfect landscapes of rolling hills, morn - local artists. She is usually on hand to talk Creek Hotel, it also has an excellent bottle displaying the latest exhibition. Owner- ing mists and breathtaking beaches. visitors around the gallery. shop featuring a good range from local artists Kerry Spokes and Michael Lester RACV CAN HELP Scattered around the town is whimsical Celia grew up nearby but remarks on wineries, of which Waratah Hills, Windy also run workshops. RACV shops have maps and touring BAIT public art: fish-mosaic benches and bus the area’s proliferation of artists: are they Ridge and Basia Mille are notable. Next door is a bibliophile’s delight, Fish guides for all parts of Victoria – see stops and a corrugated fence painted as a drawn to a creative community or does While weekends and summer holidays Tales bookshop, taken over by city- the shops list on page 90. coral reef. Combined with many colourful the scenery inspire art? are when Fish Creek bustles, its friendly escaping architects Bridget Crowe and RACV Inverloch Resort is a good base A town called Fish shops, it feels like the town is smiling. The town was first settled in 1886 and a nature shows through in the way the Michael Chang. Slowly converting its for visiting Fish Creek and the wider Creek has to be … well, Arriving by road from Wonthaggi or railway followed in 1892, with passengers cafes and galleries plan days off around shelves to their tastes, it has a gorgeous region. Check the great member Meeniyan, you are greeted at the town’s and freight, including oil from the Bass each other, ensuring off-peak visitors will collection of vintage books on show, as rates at racv.com.au/resorts. if not fishy, then at least main crossroads by two mermaids pro - Strait wells via the Barry Beach rail line. always find something open. much for their cover art as the stories, a bit different. claiming One Fish Furnishings, and a Dairy cattle graze the hills, but the but - There are three galleries in this town of plus adventure, travel and design titles. Story: Jane Canaway cheerful display of ducks, wickerwork and ter factory is closed. So, too, is the rail line fewer than 700 folk. Two hours from Melbourne, 30 min - timber goodies that demands a browse. past Leongatha; in its place is a well-main - As well as Celia Rosser’s, there’s Ride utes from Inverloch and 10 minutes from Drive up from Waratah Bay or the Prom tained bike, walking and riding trail, The Wild Goat, where furniture-maker- Foster, Fish Creek is a top lunch stop en PHOTOS I The many facets of Fish Creek include the occasional human, such as artist and you are met by a row of giant timber bringing tourists who love slow travel. turned-artist Andrew McPherson dis - route to the Prom (40km away) or a day Andrew McPherson. sculptures standing guard outside the A welcoming sight for travellers is the plays a fascinating selection of aesthetic trip for Bass Coast holiday-makers. I JANUSZ MOLINSKI, JANE CANAWAY

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