Like so many seaside towns the development of Aireys Inlet was slow and haphazard. The first settlers arrived in the area in the 1820s and the town was named after J. M.C. Eyrie (somehow the spelling has been changed over time) who settled in the district in 1846. With the advent of the goldrushes Cobb & Co. provided a regular service from Geelong to Anglesea. From Anglesea passengers travelled on to Aireys Inlet on a four-horse wagonette conducted by James Hasty. By 1891 the lighthouse had been built. The town developed very slowly and even modern tourism has tended to pass it by. Larger settlements like Anglesea and Lorne are far more popular that this quiet seaside retreat.
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.