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The Township of Queenscliff
The Township of Queenscliff
Queenscliff started out as nothing more than a row of tents. Gritty and unglamorous, the first Europeans here were men of the sea, hardy pioneers living on a vast frontier.
The sea pilots were the first settlers. As early as 1838, this rural outpost overlooking Port Phillip Heads was identified as an ideal launching ground for their operations.
Soon after, teams of fishermen arrived, sowing the seeds of a long and proud fishing industry.
Prior to this, the entire Bellarine Peninsula had been acquired from the indigenous Wathaurong people by the entrepreneur John Batman on behalf of the Port Philip Association. Known as Batman’s Treaty, this land acquisition also included the areas that are now Melbourne and Geelong.
Slowly, this modest fishing village began to take shape and grow. For a time it was known as Shortland’s Bluff, named after the British naval officer John Shortland, one of the first surveyors of the area. Buildings and lodgings were erected, with farmers and graziers laying claims on land not only here, but across the entire Bellarine.
It was in 1851, however, that the town, and indeed the entire colony of Australia, was irrevocably transformed. The catalyst; gold! Huge reserves of gold were discovered around Ballarat and Bendigo, sparking waves of immigration that saw Victoria’s population swell from roughly 80,000 to over 500,000.
Melbourne became a boomtown, with the huge influx of wealth sweeping across the region. Suddenly, this quaint fishing village became a hive of government activity. As a point of migrant entry, health and customs officers were required. A Post Office and Registry were established in 1853, resulting in merchants and traders gravitating toward this newly prospering colonial district. Land sales followed soon after, prompting Governor Charles La Trobe to officially change the name of the town. Shortland’s Bluff simply did not befit the towns natural beauty. The townsfolk wanted something more regal, more elegant.
In honour of Queen Victoria who sat the throne in England, Queenscliff was born. Throughout the next 150 years, the town slowly evolved into the charming seaside town it is today. A place of rest and recreation characterised by its fierce local pride and a wondrous resonance with the colonial history of Victoria.
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By Searoad FerriesThe Township of Queenscliff
Queenscliff started out as nothing more than a row of tents. Gritty and unglamorous, the first Europeans here were men of the sea, hardy pioneers living on a vast frontier.
The sea pilots were the first settlers. As early as 1838, this rural outpost overlooking Port Phillip Heads was identified as an ideal launching ground for their operations.
Soon after, teams of fishermen arrived, sowing the seeds of a long and proud fishing industry.
Prior to this, the entire Bellarine Peninsula had been acquired from the indigenous Wathaurong people by the entrepreneur John Batman on behalf of the Port Philip Association. Known as Batman’s Treaty, this land acquisition also included the areas that are now Melbourne and Geelong.
Slowly, this modest fishing village began to take shape and grow. For a time it was known as Shortland’s Bluff, named after the British naval officer John Shortland, one of the first surveyors of the area. Buildings and lodgings were erected, with farmers and graziers laying claims on land not only here, but across the entire Bellarine.
It was in 1851, however, that the town, and indeed the entire colony of Australia, was irrevocably transformed. The catalyst; gold! Huge reserves of gold were discovered around Ballarat and Bendigo, sparking waves of immigration that saw Victoria’s population swell from roughly 80,000 to over 500,000.
Melbourne became a boomtown, with the huge influx of wealth sweeping across the region. Suddenly, this quaint fishing village became a hive of government activity. As a point of migrant entry, health and customs officers were required. A Post Office and Registry were established in 1853, resulting in merchants and traders gravitating toward this newly prospering colonial district. Land sales followed soon after, prompting Governor Charles La Trobe to officially change the name of the town. Shortland’s Bluff simply did not befit the towns natural beauty. The townsfolk wanted something more regal, more elegant.
In honour of Queen Victoria who sat the throne in England, Queenscliff was born. Throughout the next 150 years, the town slowly evolved into the charming seaside town it is today. A place of rest and recreation characterised by its fierce local pride and a wondrous resonance with the colonial history of Victoria.