Victoria's Avoca River has reached major flood levels and is expected to keep rising as flood warnings remain in place across the state.
Heavy downpours have soaked Victoria since the weekend, seeing 12 local government areas flooded, 102 road closures and mudslides along the Great Ocean Road.
The Avoca River, in the west of the state, reached the major flood level of five metres about 7pm on Wednesday and authorities warn the water is rising.
The Avoca River at Charlton is expected to reach seven metres about midday on Thursday.
Major flood warnings are in place for the Avoca, Loddon and Wimmera river catchments.
Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Wednesday emergency crews had performed 11 rescues, more than half from swift water, because people had entered floodwaters in vehicles or on foot.
Among them were two people rescued by helicopter from the roof of a car in Maryborough.
A man and his dog were helped out of a fast-flowing creek in Pascoe Vale by firefighters late on Tuesday.
Mr Andrews asked people to "just exercise some common sense" and avoid entering dangerous waters.
The rain, except for some minor showers, has now left Victoria but the threat was not over, Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley told reporters.
"We've now got water on the ground, in the river system," he said.
In low-lying areas of Hamilton, 44 homes were evacuated due to the threat of the Grange Burn breaking a levee.
The SES received 426 calls for help on Wednesday to shortly after 4pm.
Communities along the Great Ocean Road are being warned of the risk of further landslides after 50km of the route, which cuts into steep terrain along the Victorian surf coast, was closed due to landslips and fallen trees.
The SES has urged drivers to postpone all non-essential travel from Moggs Creek to Skenes Creek.
A severe weather warning for much of the state has been downgraded to include only the Mallee and alpine areas.
Mt Emu Creek at Skipton, where a devestating flood hit in January 2011, peaked at 4.65m on Wednesday afternoon and will fall below four metres on Thursday, authorities predict.
RAINFALL TOTALS 9AM TUESDAY TO 9AM WEDNESDAY:
* Laanecoorie - 72mm
* Daylesford - 66mm
* Mount Cowley (near Lorne) - 65mm
* Ararat 52mm
* Melbourne - 21mm
