Simpson

History

Simpson was part of the Heytesbury Settlement. The Heytesbury region was settled as part of a returned soldier program. In 1960 the first settlers took up their farms, Simpson Post Office opened on 4 September 1962 as the population grew, and by 1976 there were 378 families in occupation with further families to follow as more land was cleared. The amount of the Heytesbury Settlement developed to pasture was . The Heytesbury Shire established a committee to help promote the scheme in collaboration with the Colac and Otway Shire councils. In 1946 an advisory committee was appointed by the Soldier Settlement Commission. This committee associated itself with several government departments with the intention of establishing an operation of an experimental area which was started in 1947. The potential of this country for pastures was overwhelming, the project commenced in 1956. Jack Shepherd owner of a local earth moving business won the contract to build the first 5 miles (8 km) of gravel road (now sealed) into the settlement, branching off from the Scotts Creek- Colac Road as it was then called. He then went on to build a number of dams for the farmers and buying and selling the farmers' calves in Colac.

Most-observed species

• Superb Fairywren

  Malurus cyaneus (Ellis, 1782) · Aves
  975
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  958
• Gray Fantail

  Rhipidura albiscapa Gould, 1840 · Aves
  762
• Gray Shrikethrush

  Colluricincla harmonica (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  730
• Little Raven

  Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 · Aves
  714
• Crimson Rosella

  Platycercus elegans (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  700
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  629
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  571

Most recent

• M 4.1 — 2026-07-05
  28 km WNW of Apollo Bay, Australia
• M 3.5 — 2023-10-21
  10 km NW of Apollo Bay, Australia
• M 4.8 — 2023-10-21
  16 km WNW of Apollo Bay, Australia
• M 3.5 — 2005-06-30
  59 km S of Port Fairy, Australia