MOE
Moe is the first of the ‘Latrobe
Valley’ set of six towns/city that makes up coal/power region. Moe is
at that extreme edge of the Melbourne commute; both by car and by
train.
Moe is, given its location a mining and power generation town. Moe has
some history, but in truth mostly modern. Moe in the scheme of things
is a new town
that is not interested in heritage. I.e. ‘just knock it down and make
way for progress’.
Moe was
originally known as The Mowie, then Little Moi. The
town's name is believed to derive from a Kurnai (local Indigenous)
word meaning 'swamp land'.
A small gold
discovery was made in 1852. The small settlement on the Narracan Creek
was a stopover en route to the Walhalla goldfields further north. A
Post Office opened on 17 March 1862.
Local industry
is based around the brown coal deposits in the Latrobe Valley and
electricity generation. The area is also noted for its dairy industry.
Lake Narracan is
located immediately to the north of Moe. Lake Narracan is increasingly
being used for recreational purposes, including water-skiing, jet
skiing and recreational fishing and has a small caravan park and
water-ski club.
The Moe Hotel
is the oldest functional building in Moe The downtown a tavern.
The Moe War
Memorial is an RSL afterthought.
The Churches in
Moe are all modern.    N0
further comment.
The Heritage
Museum
is a bit of a paradox given there is no heritage evidence in the town
proper. 
The industrial
heritage determines an interest and stopover is a must.
Heritage diary 
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