MORTLAKE
Mortlake is the next town encounted
when heading west along the Hamilton Highway. Mortlake is a very
impressive heritage centre with a considerable number of bluestone
buildings that in essence is a museum in itself.
Mortlake is a really nice town. Any traveler will appreciate what is
on offer and the avenue of trees will set the scene.

Mortlake is situated at the foot of Mount Shadwell, formed 25,000
years ago. It is believed that it last erupted about 5,000 years ago.
The large ejected rocks are called volcanic bombs. They are often egg
shaped because they cooled as they were being thrown through the air.
These bombs can contain olivine, a green crystal also known as period,
and the birthstone for August. Self-proclaimed as the Olivine capital
of Australia, it is also known for its bluestone buildings, with
several fine examples dating back to the 1850s visible from the
Hamilton Highway.     
The first white
settlers to arrive in Mortlake were probably David Fisher and his
party in 1839, which set up a station which was left under the charge
of Thomas Anderson. Establishment of Mortlake as a settlement occurred
in the 1850s and 1860s.
The Mortlake War Memorial has a high
profile at the eastern end of the cbd. The Boar War Memorial is within
the gardens._small.JPG)
The Catholic Church is another modern
mistake ,
but the Anglican ,
United
and Lutheran
bluestone churches are well over 100 years old and quite something.
Both the Mortlake Hotels are old
buildings and classic Victorian pubs for the era. 
Mortlake has much to offer so an
overnight at a minimum is strongly recommended. 
Heritage diary 
 |