The city of Sale stands at the gateway to the Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach, 213km east of Melbourne. The city’s emblem is the black swan and this is not surprising as this majestic bird rules the roost on the local waterways.
Sale is a small, prosperous city of 13,900 people whose livelihood stems from regional agriculture, port activity, commerce, the riches in and under the Bass Strait and an eco-tourism industry based on the sea and the area's rivers, wetlands and wildlife.
Sale has a rich collection of heritage buildings and there is a guide to some of the more significant ones in the area. Sale’s historic swing bridge - built to allow steamers and barges to negotiate the canal linking Sale to the Latrobe River and Lake Wellington - was designed by John Grainger, father of celebrated composer Percy Grainger.
Visit Sale Powder Magazine, whose floor was fixed with timber dowels to reduce the risk of explosions. Sale Historical Museum occupies a charming colonial building and houses a collection of paintings, photographs, fabrics and artefacts relating to the early days of the Gippsland area. Gippsland Armed Forces Museum in Sale has over 3,000 items relating to the history of the armed forces in the area.
The famous Ninety Mile Beach can best be accessed from the South Gippsland Highway via Seaspray, Golden Beach or Loch Sport. It is the epitomy of a pristine ocean beach, with bird life ranging from the tiny blue wren to the soaring sea eagle.
Make sure to check out the following:
Sale Art Gallery
Wellington Entertainment Centre
Port of Sale
Gippsland Lakes
Lakes Gutheridge & Guyatt
Wetlands & Boardwalk