Pomonal’s Roy Trimble has been encouraging people to change the way they perceive the rocks.

Mr Trimble, a former teacher, has completed extensive research on the rock formation and has nicknamed some of the rocks in relation to their shapes, such as Muffin Rock and Old Lady’s Boot.

As he is not from the area originally, Mr Trimble is careful not to lecture people or make demands.

“I’d like to think i’m playing a part in raising the profile of the importance of this place,” he said.

“To be honest, the graffiti has played a role in making me more aware of this natural feature we take for granted.”

July 2 marked the 150th anniversary of the preservation of the natural landmark.

Mr Timble said the Ararat community can make a strong claim to both of the gentlemen responsible for the site's preservation.

Photographer Oliver Goldsmith Armstrong extensively documented the rocks and for a time, conducted his business from the Tuson's 'Camp Hotel', Ararat.

Conservationist Samuel John Davidson was the pastoralist proprietor of 'Allanvale', Great Western.

Mr Trimble said there were a number of myths going around about the rocks.

“They were named after the Levi sisters, who came over on a ship from Ireland,” he said.

“There was a claim that they came over as little girls as part of a family, but at the time the sisters were aged in their late teens and twenties and were all married within four years of arrival.

“It was part of an effort to get men to stay in the area and increase the local population and boost the economy, like we are doing today.”

The rocks played an important part in rebuilding Stawell’s main street buildings after a fire in 1866.

Mr Timble said stonemasons drilled into the rocks and blasted them apart to obtain foundation stones.

It was at that time when the first graffiti started appearing.

“It was carved into the rock. They didn’t have much access to paint back then,” he said.

Some of the graffiti dates back to 1957 and Mr Trimble tracked down some of the people who made it.

“They said they found a long stick and tied on a paint brush to get the writing up high,” Mr Trimble said.

Mr Trimble said the Sisters Rocks became much more prominent in the 1920s after a series of postcard pictures were taken.

“This has been an iconic place for anybody wanting to make money. I’ve got an ashtray, a little crystal dish souvenir, with a picture of the rocks on it,” he said.