THE BALNARRING COASTLINE - PICTORIAL HISTORY - 1873 to 2017

THE BALNARRING COASTLINE - PICTORIAL HISTORY - 1873 to 2017

I have published this free, comprehensive on-line, research project which describes in words and pictures the history, geomorphology, heritage and evolution of the Balnarring Coastline, extending from Somers to Point Leo and nearby areas, centred on Balnarring Township, 80 km south of Melbourne, located on Westernport Bay.

The Project includes many public-domain out-of-copyright images, drawings, maps, engravings and photographs, dating back to the 1870s, supplemented with recent photos and videos taken by the author.

It's at 

Balnarring Coastline Pictorial History

Coolart Wetlands

These pix were taken on Nov 24 2012 in the Coolart Wetlands, between Balnarring Beach and Somers Beach, Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.

They show the scenery, environment, and features on a 5 km (return) hike, starting at the main car park,at Balnarring Beach, along Tulum Beach, then into the Wetlands, crossing Merricks and Home Creeks.

This was a fiercely hot day, 35 degrees - the tide was very low - many visitors and hounds enjoying the beach!


See all of the Photos of my visit! 

Coastal Hike - Balnarring to Somers

These pix were taken on March 10 2012.

They show the scenery, activities, and environment on a 4 km (return) hike along the coast from Balnarring to Somers Beaches, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.

Plenty of yachting and water action!

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Woodland Hike, Somers Coast

The Woodland Hiking Track, Somers Coastal Reserve, is reached from the car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, about 70 km south of Melbourne.

I visited this scenic area on Sunday September 26, 2010, following the Merricks Creek Track from the car park, then on to Tulum Beach.

About 1 km along the beach an unsigned foot-track goes on a boardwalk, then crosses the wide Merricka Creek over a bridge.

Immediately past the bridge is the start of signed Woodland Walk, which goes through the lush coastal reserve, part of the Coolart Wetlands, then passes the Somers School Activity Centre.

A style is crossed at a fence-line.

The Track then reaches the large suspension bridge over Merricks Creek, then comes out on to Tulum Beach.

Somers Beach is to the east - the return is along Tulum Beach back to the car park.

There are many interesting Tracks in the Coolart Wetlands, well worth investigating!

My hike was about 6 km total.

Good views across Westernport Bay to Phillip Island, Seal Rocks, and the Nobbies, and westerly to Cape Schanck.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Coastal Hike, Somers to Sandy Point, Westernport Bay

Somers is a small coastal settlement about 85 km SE of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

It developed from the pastoral runs of the 1920s, and during WW2 the RAAF operated a training centre there. After that, the Education Department took over the military buildings and established Somer's Camp. The general store and post office date back to 1927.

Nearby is the world famous Coolart Wetlands and Homestead.

The foreshore reserve has good, signed walking tracks, passing through bushland, offering pleasant views across Westernport Bay to Phillip Island.

I visited Somers on May 8 2009, a wintry and overcast day, for a 6 km (return) coastal hike on the beach east to Sandy Point. This included the interesting Koala Walk.

Sandy Point is the boundary of the extensive HMAS Cerberus RAN Naval Establishment, and access is prohibited.

Caution is needed at high tide to avoid being stranded at the base of the cliffs!

See the full set of Photos of my visit!

Balnarring Beach - Kitesurfing and Boats

Balranning Beach is about 70 km SE of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

It's popular for sheltered swimming, small boats, sailing, kitesurfing, beachwalking and low-tide reef exploring.

Kitesurfing is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard).

I visited the Beach on March 22, 2009, a very windy day, with kitesurfers and small boats active.

I walked about 6 km (return) along the beach to Somers Beach, with a side trip into the adjacent extensive Coolart Wetlands Sanctuary, Homestead and Lagoons.

Coolart is separated from the Beach by the scenic Merricks Creek, reached by an interesting suspension bridge.

The region was first settled in the 1830s, and Coolert has a rich history.

The original inhabitants of Coolart were the Bunurong tribe of Aborigines and it is from the word "Colourt" or "Callert" - their name for nearby Sandy Point - that the present name of Coolart is derived.

In 1895, Frederick Sheppard Grimwade bought the estate and built the imposing homestead as the family's country retreat. Between 1907 and 1937 Coolart was held at different times by Thomas Armstrong, James Balmain and John Sylvester Feehan. The late Tom Luxton purchased the property in 1937 and immediately had the property declared a sanctuary for native wildlife and embarked upon a program of habitat development. The 87 hectare nucleus of the Coolart area was purchased by the Victorian State Government in 1977 and it was proclaimed as a reserve for "Conservation and Education Purposes".

For information about Coolert, please see

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources/22_2144.pdf

See my complete set of Photos

Somers Coastline and Beachwalk

Somers is a small coastal settlement 75 km SE of Melbourne, on the west side of Westernport Bay.

It is reached from the Frankston-Flinders Rd, to Balnarring, then along Sandy Point Rd, leading to the General Store at Somers Beach.

Two interesting short walking tracks start at the upper level car park - these are Koala Walk and Sheoak Walk, which are described on a large map board.

Sheoak Walk passes through bushland and its eastern end is on the beach. It is possible to walk all the way easterly from this point along the beach to Sandy Point, a return trip of about 12 km, ending at the high security fence surrounding HMAS Cerberus, the RAN naval facility.

I visited Somers Beach on March 1, 2009, completing the Koala and Sheoak Walks, as well as the beach walk extension towards Sandy Point, about 5 km in total.

From the viewpoint on Sheoak Walk, there are good views across the Bay to Phillip Island, about 12 km direct, with The Nobbies and Seal Rocks clearly visible.

On this day, groups of dolphins had come to about 20 m from the beach in search of fish!

See the full set of Photos of my trip, and the dolphins!