What a day we've had! Relics of Victoria's early defences, quarantine horror for early settlers, gracious homes of the mega rich and famous and the cafe heart of the Mornington Peninsula. Access to this naturally beautiful landscape and many seaside towns is easy via the motorway so it's a popular destination - many people have camped on the beach reserves year after year - and Melbournians love to get out and about.
We drove right to the end of the peninsula to Pt Nepean. Here are the early military fortifications of Fort Nepean with tunnels and gun emplacements which were for the early defence of Victoria and active during both wars. The entrance to Port Phillip Bay was of strategic importance and the many structures show the evolution of military engineering over the 19th and 30th centuries.
The quarantine station (begun in 1852 to take passengers from the SS Ticonderoga, which arrived with typhus on board: many died at sea in horrific conditions and on reaching land - 100 in all) operated until 1952 before becoming Army Cadet Training facilities until the 1990s. It remains intact with many heritage listed buildings.
Walking tracks of varying lengths lead all over Point Nepean giving opportunities to view flora and fauna, the military and early settler history. It is a wonderful area and well preserved- well worth spending a weekend exploring.
Portsea and Sorrento are two highly desirable seaside towns - mansions from Victoria's heyday, more modest homes and holiday accommodation line the golden sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The shopping strip is full of boutiques, eateries and galleries all full of people enjoying the glorious sunshine.
After a lunch of fresh, fresh fish we drove to view the wild side of the peninsula - Prime Minister Harold Holt drowned near here in 1967 - but today the sea was calm and no footprints marred the beach stretching as far as the eye could see.
Catching our attention were rows of gaily painted beach huts, nestling on the sand and providing storage and family space for many years to beach goers. These huts may only be passed down through families, never sold and they are highly valued.
The final treat of the day was a lightening fast visit to Heronswood, a mansion built in the 1860s and now a garden, restaraunt, shop and home of the Digger's club promoting unusual and heritage plants. I bought the Alliums I've long admired.
This area demands another visit with walking boots!
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