As far back as January 29th 1907 when Councillor Gustav Mahnke and Mr. A. C. Butcher were instrumental in forming the Stawell Tourists Association, Tourism had been a major drawcard for visitors to Stawell and the nearby Grampians.

At that time Stawell was described "as an attractive country town with a population of around 6,000 people. It is built on the slopes of a range of low hills, on the gentle Northern foothills of the Great Dividing Range, 133 km West of Melbourne in the geographical centre of Western Victoria. To the West are the rugged ranges of the Grampians Mountains, to the South are the granite hills of the Black Ranges, to the East lies the Wimmera River with the blue outline of the Pyrenees beyond and to the unbroken Northern Horizon lies the rich wheat lands of the Wimmera Plains".

The Township of Stawell was proclaimed on June 11th 1858. Prior to this, from 1853, the district was known as "Pleasant Creek" and the quartz reef mining area around Big Hill was known as "The Reefs".

Stawell was named after Sir William Foster Stawell who was Chief Law Officer of the District of Port Phillip, Acting Governor of the Colony of Victoria, Attorney General of the first Victorian Parliament, and was also the Chief Justice of Victoria. In the 12th century the family took their name from the Parish of Stawell in Somerset, England.

In July 1968, the Town of Stawell had the foresight to become the first Council in Victoria to appoint the State's first full time tourist promotion officer.

Local Naturalist, Mr. Ian McCann was appointed to the position and on October 4th 1968 an up to date and modern office was established in a brick building at Central Park that was for many years the plumbing business of Mr. Bill Harris.

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On a visit to Stawell on January 12th 1970, the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe remarked "How wonderful is the wisdom of Stawell and the Shire to have appointed a man to promote tourism and industry. You are renowned for a world famous sports meeting and your history is Gold.

One of the major tourist attractions in the district are the magnificent Grampians Mountains at Halls Gap. These contain beautiful seasonal wildflower gardens, intriguing wildlife, scenic grandeur, aboriginal "art galleries", lakes, valleys and scenic walks.

Stawell is the natural point of access and provides a base from which the region can be explored.

Other locations of interest include, the Sisters Rocks, Bunjil's Cave Aboriginal shelter, chiming clock and animated figures on the Town Hall, the wineries of Great Western, the Pleasant Creek Museum, the Ironbark Forest and the many historic buildings of Main Street and others, scattered around town.

The Visitor Information Centre has had many locations over the years and is now ideally located in a high profile position in Longfield Street (on the Western Highway).

At this site, it is easily locatable for the tourist with cars and caravans and encourages travellers to stop in Stawell and not just pass through. Another move is currently being contemplated.

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