Forrest, Victoria — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Forrest, in the Colac Otway Shire local government area.
| Locality | Forrest |
| State | Victoria (VIC) |
| Local Government Area | Colac Otway Shire |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT) |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional Australia |
| Latitude | -38.51205 |
| Longitude | 143.70451 |
| Population | 205 |
| Density | 4.8 /km² |
| Area | 43.0 km² |
| Elevation | 184 m |
| Postcode | 3236 |
| Area Code | 03 |
| Distance to Melbourne | 135 km southwest |
Forrest is a locality in the Colac Otway Shire local government area of Victoria, Australia. It is a small community with a population of 205. The locality covers an area of 43.0 km², giving a population density of about 4.8 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 184 m above sea level. It lies approximately 135 km southwest of Melbourne. Forrest is located at 38.5121°S, 143.7045°E. It observes Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT). Postcode: 3236. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Inner Regional Australia.
Forrest rests at the edge of the Otway Ranges, a place where the air carries the scent of damp earth and eucalyptus. It lies 70.2 km south-west of Geelong, VIC (from Geelong, VIC: bearing 235°T), and is situated 24.7 km south-south-east of Colac. Rolling hills, cloaked in a mosaic of verdant pasture and shadowed forests, cradle the scattering of homes and farms. The land here is generous, its contours softened by time and the persistent caress of rain, a gentle undulation that invites contemplation. Sunlight, when it breaks through the often-clouded sky, spills in broad, golden swathes across the fields, illuminating the dew-kissed grass and the deep greens of the bordering trees. The silence is profound, broken only by the distant bleating of sheep or the rustle of wind through the leaves, a quietude that feels ancient and deeply rooted.
The history of Forrest is intrinsically tied to the hardy pioneers who first cleared these lands for grazing and dairy farming, their efforts etched into the very character of the landscape. The surrounding countryside continues to echo this agrarian heritage, with dairy herds dotting the paddocks and the hum of agricultural machinery a familiar sound. Beyond the immediate farms, the proximity to the Great Ocean Road hints at a burgeoning tourism influence, drawing visitors keen to explore the natural wonders of the Otway National Park, its towering trees and fern gullies a stark contrast to the open fields. This blend of traditional farming and the allure of the wild lends Forrest a distinctive charm, a place where the pulse of rural life beats steadily beneath the majestic canopy of the ancient forest.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Forrest, Victoria with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Forrest, in the Colac Otway Shire local government area.
Detailed location data for Forrest includes the postcode (3236), telephone area code (03), and local government area (Colac Otway Shire), with an ABS remoteness classification of Inner Regional Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Forrest is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |