Camperdown's heritage & character is a feature of South West Victoria. The town was named by Governor Charles LaTrobe in 1854 recognising Scottish naval hero, Lord Viscount Adam Duncan who was Earl of Camperdown. Due to the efforts of many local groups, the architecture and beauty of Camperdown's unique buildings, wide streets and parks have been preserved for all to see. Many of these buildings and features, which date back to the mid 1800s, can be appreciated during heritage walking tours of Manifold Street and other streets. Detailed information on such walks and other interesting aspects of Camperdown can be obtained from the Information Centre located within the old Court House in Manifold Street..
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Camperdown was established at the foot of Mount Leura and Mount Sugar loaf, which are part of a much larger volcanic complex known as the Leura Maar. A Maar is an uncommon land form, comprising a broad, roughly circular, flat floored volcanic crater with steep inner walls and a low surrounding rim made up of fragments of rock material blown out of the crater during eruptions. 
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The growth of Mount Leura and Mt Sugar loaf began with explosive bursts of lava being ejected into the air. Gases escaping from the lava caused it to break in to gravel sized fragments called scoria which fell back to the ground This now makes up the cones which provide a wonderful back drop for the township 
From the summit of Mount Leura a spectacular view of the surrounding district can be seen, which includes many of the other cones and craters associated with the basalt plain .
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Mount Sugar loaf is a steep, near perfect cone made up of scoria rising as a high point on the same crater rim as Mount Leura. It formed as a result of perhaps several months of lava flowing from the same point in the crater. .
Camperdown's two lakes are one kilometre west of town in a twin volcanic crater, separated only by a narrow stretch of land. Lake Gnotuk is salty and 30 metres lower than Lake Bullen Merri, which has fresh water. These lakes and many other lakes in this volcanic region are the result of eruptions that occurred more than 10,000 years ago. After the eruptions ceased, both craters became choked with rock debris, and the lakes developed. The bottom of both lakes are about the same level [80 metres above sea level] Bullen Merri has a steep cone shaped floor and is more than 60 metres deep, while lake Gnotuk has a flat floor and a depth of less than 20 metres.
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