Anglesea is on Wadawurrung Country. Wadawurrung people have cared for and maintained deep cultural connections with the land, waterways and sea country of this region for countless generations.
European settlement brought grazing, fishing and timber activity to the district during the nineteenth century. The township developed beside the river and became increasingly popular with campers and holidaymakers.
Road access transformed tourism along the coast. Construction of the Great Ocean Road after the First World War connected coastal communities and helped Anglesea grow as a seaside destination.
For 46 years, a coal mine and power station operated behind the town to supply electricity to Alcoa's Point Henry smelter. Operations closed permanently in 2015; rehabilitation and remediation of the former industrial site continue.
Anglesea's history has also been shaped by bushfire, including the devastating Ash Wednesday fires of 1983. The town's regenerated bushland, river, beaches and heath remain central to community life today.
For local collections and detailed historical research, visit the Anglesea & District Historical Society.