Mortlake: Discover History and Landscapes

Mortlake offers a variety of reasons to explore the town’s history and landscape. A commemorative avenue, historic buildings, a lake and the chance to search for olivine at Mount Shadwell each offer a different focus. You can shape your stay around what interests you most: culture, nature experiences or a particular event.

Discover history in the streetscape

The Avenue of Honour runs for about 2.2 kilometres along the Hamilton Highway, from Ararat-Mortlake Road to Cemetery Lane. It is a rare example of an avenue planted in memory of individual casualties of both world wars. Its significance lies in more than its length: it commemorates people who might otherwise be overshadowed by the broader history of the wars. The names of its two endpoints also give you a practical guide to this part of Mortlake.

Another way to explore the town’s history is to follow the self-guided Heritage Trail. It covers 20 historic sites in Mortlake. Unlike the Avenue, the focus here is not on a single, continuous commemorative avenue, but on a larger number of historic places. The self-guided format gives you the freedom to explore the town’s history at your own pace; the 20 sites convey the breadth of the trail without limiting your visit to a single attraction.

The buildings also offer a range of historical perspectives. Historic bluestone buildings line Mortlake’s streets, shaping the way you see the town’s built heritage. The Montgomery Pavilion was built in 1924 beneath the spreading branches of an oak that was then 140 years old. This links its construction to a specific tree and year. Mortlake Mill, meanwhile, dates from 1856; its chimney, classified by the National Trust, is considered a prominent landmark. Together, these examples show different facets of the town’s history: from an avenue as a place of remembrance to a pavilion associated with an old oak, and a mill building with its chimney.

Mount Shadwell and time by the water

Mortlake lies at the foot of Mount Shadwell. At the quarry there, visitors can search for olivine. This adds an activity focused on a particular mineral to the town’s historic attractions. If you are interested in the landscape and its geological features, this site is another reason to include Mount Shadwell in your plans.

Tea Tree Lake offers a different way to experience the area, with opportunities to walk and picnic by the water. This is a more relaxed option than exploring the Heritage Trail or historic buildings. You can choose where to focus your interests: a self-guided look at 20 historic sites, a search for olivine at the quarry, or time for a lakeside walk and picnic. These are different themes to consider when planning your trip, and need not be combined into a set route.

Plan your event and accommodation search

The Mortlake Racing Club holds the Mortlake Cup race meeting every year on Derby Day. If you want to plan your visit around it, check the event dates in advance. A stay centred on this event may have a different focus from a trip highlighting the Avenue of Honour, historic sites or the landscape.

Clark’s Pies is also considered a local institution in Mortlake. If you plan to visit the business specifically, check its current operating status beforehand. This lets you include its culinary connection in your plans without taking a visit for granted.

When choosing a hotel in Mortlake, it helps to first decide what you want to shape your stay: commemorative and architectural history, the annual race meeting, or experiences at Mount Shadwell and Tea Tree Lake. Use this focus to guide your search for suitable accommodation.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Grantville, Mount Sabine, Nuggetty, Myrtleford, Redesdale, Steels Creek, Torrumbarry, Inverloch.

For the main travel overview: Victoria.