Walkerville, Victoria

Walkerville is situated on the traditional lands of the Brataualung people, a clan of the Gunai/Kurnai nation.{{cite web |title=The Gunaikurnai People |url=https://www.gunaikurnai.com.au/about/our-people/more |publisher=Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board |access-date=7 July 2021}}

The settlement was originally named Waratah but changed to Walkerville in 1892 to avoid confusion with mail directed to Tasmania. The name honored the recently dead William Froggatt Walker, the former Victorian Customs Commissioner. {{cite news |title=From Melbourne papers. VICTORIA |newspaper=The Mercury |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=December 19, 1892 |page=3 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13293828}}

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Walkerville was a thriving industrial hub due to its lime production. Limestone mined from local cliffs was processed in six kilns and transported by horse-drawn trams to a 300-meter jetty for shipping.{{cite web |title=Walkerville Lime Kilns |url=https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/6076# |publisher=Heritage Council Victoria |access-date=7 June 2020}} However, transportation difficulties, such as bad weather preventing ships from docking and lime spoiling in moist air, caused the industry to decline. Rising shipping costs led to the closure of operations in 1926.{{cite news |title=Forgotten Walkerville |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205850439 |work=The Age |date=11 May 1940 |page=12}}

A Post Office operated from 10 August 1885 until its closure in 1972.{{Citation | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | access-date = 11 April 2008}}

Walkerville was a lively settlement during its peak, hosting horse races, sports, and annual balls in the old hall, which served as the center of community life. However, by 1940, Walkerville was described as a "ghost township," omitted from tourist guides and treated as if it "was not on the map" by railway and road services.

A legend associated with the town involves a ship’s carpenter accused of stealing bullion in the 19th century. The gold was allegedly hidden near Walkerville, but its location was never discovered.

Today, remnants of Walkerville’s history remain, including lime kiln ruins, jetty pilings, and stonework from former buildings. The old hall and other structures reflect the town's transition from an industrial hub to a tourist destination.

Walkerville is divided into two coastal sections and one inland section:

• Walkerville South: Features a sheltered bay with a sandy beach with access for launching boats.{{cite web |title=Walkerville South beach access closure |url=https://www.walkervilleforeshore.com.au/news/walkerville-south-closed-to-recreational-vehicles-26th-december-2020-31st-january-2021/}} Access is via the Walkerville South Road.
• Walkerville North: Includes the Walkerville Foreshore Camping Reserve. There is beach access for launching boats at the end of Bayside Drive.
• Walkerville Promontory View Estate situated inland on the Walkerville Road 2.3 km north of Walkerville North. There is a CFA fire station in Panoramic Drive. The estate has no sewerage system or town water supply.

Limeburner's Walk is a track between Walkerville North and Walkerville South in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park with interpretive signage about the area's geology, mining history and a historic cemetery.{{cite web |title=Limeburners Walk |url=https://www.visitpromcountry.com.au/walking-cycling/limeburners-walk}} The walk is currently closed due to landslips.{{cite web |title=Limeburners Walk (Cape Liptrap Coastal Park)|url=https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/limeburners-walk#change-of-conditions|publisher =Parks Victoria}}

Alison Lester's children's book Magic Beach, was inspired by her childhood summers in the area.{{cite web |title=Magic Beach: Making Waves |url=https://www.visitvictoria.com/features/magic-beach-making-waves |website=Visit Victoria |access-date=31 December 2024}}

Walkerville by Weddings Parties Anything, from their 1996 album River'esque is written from the perspective of a resident of the town at the closure of limestone mining.{{cite web |title=Riveresque Album by Weddings Parties Anything |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/riveresque-mw0000075495 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=31 December 2024}}

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