Perfect weather today! and great for our 8km walk! We drove by Gunamatta and Rye Beaches, had a wander around lovely Sorrento, then to Portsea and the Point Nepean National Park.
Point Nepean's natural landscape is beautiful! It's rich history has played an important role in shaping the early settlement, quarantine and defence of Victoria. The park is 560 hectares and is located at the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula, with outstanding coastal scenery and panoramic views of Bass Strait, the Rip and Port Phillip.
So our walk through the Park was very scenic and super interesting! We visited and explored the military forts and tunnels at Fort Pearce and Fort Nepean, the Quarantine Station, viewed the memorial where Prime Minister Harold Holt went missing and enjoyed the coastal scenery!
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| Gunamatta Beach |
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| Cape Schanck and Lighthouse from Gunamatta Beach |
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| Everyone out enjoying the beautiful weather - surfing, fishing and surf life saving! |
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| Rye Beach |
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To quote Pete:
A classy town! :)
Sorrento claims to be the cradle of Victorian settlement. In 1803 - 30 years before the founding of Melbourne -
Victoria's first European settlement was established here. A permanent settlement was brief because of lack of fresh water but the fledgling camp of soldiers and convicts at Sullivan Bay was the scene of the first magistrate's court, first public hospital, first postal service, first government printing press, first water supply and first wedding, christening and funeral service.
George Coppin, the "Father of Sorrento", recognised and promoted the special atmosphere of Sorrento that shot it to prominence as Victoria's most fashionable seaside resort during the late 19th century. By the 1890's numerous guest houses, hotels and public buildings had been built from the high quality limestone of the district. Coppin's legacy remains in the elegant limestone buildings that grace the main street. It is still to this day a popular seaside escape for Melbournians - can't blame them - it's lovely!!!
Have a look at the houses, guesthouses, shops, cafes and businesses.........
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| Great name! |
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| Sorrento Beach |
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| A natural rock pool |
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| Great cafe "All Smiles" overlooks the beach |
POINT NEPEAN NATIONAL PARK
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| Walking through time.............. |
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| Cheviot Beach |
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The huge waves at Cheviot Beach - and today isn't
regarded as rough! |
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| Can't stray off the path - unexploded bombs! |
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| Gun emplacements all along the coastline |
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Fort Nepean at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula
Really interesting to see the military fortifications dating back to 1880
and what a stunning views of Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait |
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| The entry to the Fort which is built under the hill |
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| The view back along the coast and Bass Strait from the Fort |
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Port Phillip Bay on the left and Bass Strait on the right
We walked all that way!!! |
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| The entrance to the tunnels |
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| Port Phillip Bay was so well defended it was known as "Victoria's Gibraltar" |
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| The gun emplacements |
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| The Rip - the waterway between the heads at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay from Bass Strait |
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| Looking across to Queenscliff |
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| The emplacement on Cheviot Hill |
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| Entrane to Fort Pearce |
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| Eagles Nest - the site of Australia's largest Disappearing Gun |
THE QUARANTINE STATION
It has had an amazing number of uses! - a Quarantine Station, migrant quarters,
Officer Cadet Training Centre, and a Refugee Camp
It is a place of outstanding historical significance. It was established in 1852 and was the major place for quarantine purposes in Victoria until 1979 and closed in 1980. The site was used by the Army as the Officer of cadet School from 1952-1985 and as the School of Army of health from 1985-1998. In 1999 the Quarantine Station buildings were used to accommodate Kosovo refugees.
The historic buildings are remarkably intact with artefacts spanning over 150 years of quarantine and army use.
The yellow flag is the universally recognised sign of quarantine and dates back to the 14th century.
Ships arriving at their destination were required to sit at anchor for 40 days before landing. The word "quarantine" was derived from the Italian word quaranta giorni which means 40 days.
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| The six graves |
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Look what we nearly walked on - thought it was a stick -
A Brown Snake! |
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Shepherd's Hut
This is the oldest surviving building on the Quarantine Station site. |
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| Interesting quarantine procedures! |
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| Information about one of the ships quarantined in 1853 |
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| Some McKenzie's were amongst the passengers |
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| Three ships that were quarantined over the years - smallpox, influenza, mumps and leprosy were common reasons! |
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| The Foul Luggage Store |
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| The Hospital |
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| Inside the Boiler House - the Disinfecting and Bathing Complex |
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| The Boiler House |
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| Finished a great day watching the sunset over Port Phillip Bay from the historic Sorrento Hotel |
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