Originally known as Stockyard Creek, Foster was founded in 1870 when the discovery of gold brought settlers from near and far.  With a current population of about 1250, the town is well-served by a wide range of facilities and businesses.  Foster is the centre of a rich agricultural area and is the main shopping centre for visitors to Wilsons Promontory and the beautiful beaches of Corner Inlet and Waratah Bay.

 

Foster is located in the heart of South Gippsland's main attractions. The town has two supermarkets, and two banks including the ANZ and the Commonwealth, which has an ATM. There is also a Bendigo Bank agent, a licensed post office, chemist, a pub, a variety of other shops, a medical centre and a hospital. Foster features a challenging 18-hole golf course, a swimming pool, lawn bowls, tennis courts, an art and craft gallery and a museum. At just over two hours’ drive south-east from Melbourne along the Monash Freeway and the South Gippsland Highway, you’ll be surprised how accessible this lovely part of Victoria is. If you haven’t visited this area before, we’re sure you’ll be impressed by its beauty.

 

 
 

Pearl Park is set along the banks of Stockyard Creek and is a wonderful spot for a picnic and a stroll. Tables and chairs, an electric barbecue and public toilets are available.  The park is located at the western end of town.

Waratah North artists Catherine Blamey and Trevor Wheeler have installed two paintings, a district map and two metal-and-glass display cases inside the rotunda opposite Pearl Park in Foster. Catherine was responsible for the paintings, one of which features a Friesian dairy cow standing in rich green pasture, while the other shows a scene in the Strzelecki State Forest. She also produced the district map, which shows the locations of all of the towns and main attractions in the Corner Inlet district. A simple key directs visitors to Foster's Visitor Information Centre just up the street in the Stockyard Gallery complex. Trevor made the display cases and they are filled with local information for visitors to the area. The project was funded using some of the charrettes town planning grant set aside for Foster by the South Gippsland Shire.