WATCH: How Koroit put its name on the map.
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00:00 Coroyte is situated in southwest Victoria, 10 minutes either side of the coastal tourism
00:05 hotspots of Warrnambool and Port Ferry.
00:07 The town is named after the Coroytich-Gundich people, who occupied the land prior to European
00:13 settlement.
00:14 At the doorstep of Coroyte is the Tower Hill State Game Reserve, which features an inactive
00:19 volcano.
00:20 Tower Hill is a popular tourist destination, with an abundance of native flora and fauna.
00:25 With a population of roughly 2,000 people, Coroyte is one of the largest settlements
00:30 in the Moyne municipality, and is seen as an area of sustainable growth.
00:34 The town has become an attractive option for young families, and has two schools, Coroyte
00:39 and District Primary, and St Patrick's Primary, along with a kindergarten which was opened
00:44 in 2014.
00:46 Coroyte was first settled by Europeans throughout the 1840s and 50s.
00:50 The rich volcanic farmland drew Irish potato farmers, who had fled famine in their homeland,
00:55 and couldn't believe their luck to find a piece of island in their new country.
01:00 More than 160 years later, Coroyte is still known for its Irish heritage, and appears
01:05 first in a Google search for "Australia's most Irish town".
01:09 This heritage is celebrated on the last weekend of April, with the staging of the Coroyt Irish
01:14 Festival.
01:15 The event attracts a crowd of 4,000 people each year, with more than 70% of the audience
01:21 coming from outside the region, providing a significant tourism and economic boost to
01:26 the town.
01:27 Other annual events on Coroyte's calendar include the Coroyte Truck Show, the Coroyte
01:31 Lions Club Art Show, the Lakes School Show, and the Coroyte Agriculture Show.
01:37 Sport plays a huge part in Coroyte life, with strong football, netball, cricket, bowls,
01:43 croquet and basketball clubs ensuring an active lifestyle.
01:47 The town features a busy commerce centre, with new businesses commonplace on the main
01:52 street.
01:53 Established in 1853, the renowned Mickey Burkes Hotel has maintained strong historical ties
01:59 with the town's Irish heritage.
02:01 Coroyte's largest employer is the dairy producer Bega, which operates a factory at
02:06 the town's eastern entry.
02:07 A number of well-utilised public spaces adorn the town, including the Botanic Gardens, Skate
02:13 Park, Village Green, and the Coroyte Railway Station precinct.
02:18 This area has become the halfway mark and centrepiece of the Port Ferry to Warrnambool
02:22 Rail Tram.
02:23 While the town is inland, it's just a 10km drive to the famed Killarney Beach to cool
02:29 off on hot summer days.
02:31 [music]