Great Ocean
Road
Port
Fairy to Portland
PDF Great Ocean Road Travel Notes
Port Fairy to Portland
Great Ocean Road
Satellite
Image Port Fairy to Portland
On
the right hand bottom of the image the mouth
of the Moyne River can be seen. Port Fairy is
located at the mouth of the Moyne River just behind Griffith Island.
Portland is located in the bay to left of image. Portland Aluminium
smelter is clearly visible as the blue area on the headland directly
below
Portland. The smaller prominent headland on the left of the image is
Cape Nelson. Cape Bridgewater is the large headland on the far left of
the
image. Lawrence Rocks is the largest Gannett breeding ground in the
Southern hemisphere.
Port Fairy Portland
Road
Video
Aerial Video
Aerial
Photos Port
Fairy Port
Fairy
to
Portland Portland
Cape
Nelson
Cape
Bridgewater
Discovery
Bay
Photo Galleries
Port
Fairy
Surrounds Griffith
Island Portland
Portland
Gardens Cape Nelson
Cape
Bridgewater Cape
Bridgewater
Walk
Blue
Whales
Things to Do
and See
Port Fairy Portland
Shops Fuel
Eating Accommodation Port Fairy Portland
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Section of the Great Ocean Road Peterborough to Port Fairy
Great Ocean Road Facts
Port Fairy to Portland
Portland
was
the
site
of
the
first white settlement in state of Victoria
Australia.
Portland Bay was named after the Duke
of Portland in 1800 by the explorer James Grant.
William Henty settled Portland in 1834.
Portland township was set up in 1838
and Portland's Post Office was established in 1841.
Around 1834 Portland was scene to a
partly documented massacre of the local aboriginal people. The massacre
of
up to 200 Gunditjmara people occurred over a dispute over a beached
whale.
The Gunditjmara people are the only documented aboriginal people in
Australia who built stone house and used technically advanced fish
traps. Their stone ruins are still present in the Portland and
surrounding area.
Portland was proclaimed a city in 1985.
Portland is home to approximately 10000 people.
Portland has a large airstrip serviced by a local airline company.
Portland has a large commercial port that services the fishing
industry, the Portland Aluminium smelter, mining and wood chips sourced
from plantation timber.
The continental shelf is only 3 kilometres off Cape Nelson and krill
transported on an Antarctic uplift support excellent fishing off the
coast. This same uplift attracts the worlds largest mammal the Blue
Whale to the Portland coast in Summer. Portland offers the best Blue
Whale viewing in Australia and they are a must see if visiting Portland
in Summer.
Australian Fur Seals inhabit caves below Cape Bridgewater and can be
seen from the viewing platform or by a sea tour.
Portland has magnificent Botanical Gardens containing a large
display of named roses and in February March one of the best displays
of named dahlias in Victoria and Australia.
The historic lighthouse at Cape Nelson was put into operation in 1884.
A unique feature of this light is the long high wall leading back to
the lighthouse keepers cottage to protect the keepers going to and from
the light.
Bridgewater Bay in the lee of Cape Bridgewater has excellent surf.
The tram car tourist route around the town and the lookout from the old
water tower are worth seeing on a Portland trip.
Portland has excellent shops, accommodation and eating places plus all
services.
Portland is a must see destination on any Great Ocean Road trip during
the summer months.
