PORTARLINGTON, VICTORIA

Portarlington is a historic coastal township located on the Bellarine Peninsula, 27km from the city of Geelong, in the state of Victoria, Australia. The gently rising hills behind the town feature vineyards and olive groves, overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Portarlington is a popular family holiday destination and a centre of fishing and aquaculture (mussels). At one time the town claimed the largest caravan park in the Southern Hemisphere, although the size has reduced considerably in recent decades.

At the 2006 census, Portarlington had a population of 3,021. Portarlington also has a large number of Maltese, Croatian, Italian and Islander immigrants. In 2002, the Victorian Coastal Strategy report named Portarlington as a potential site for a multi-million dollar Safe Harbour development on the Bellarine Peninsula. In December 2005, private independent consultants delivered a feasibility study which identified Portarlington as the preferred site for the development.

These photographs were taken in the Spring of 2003 during a day trip there. Hence the canola fields in bloom.

This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme.