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! 

Merricks Beach Foreshore Reserve

Pix taken on April 2012 on a 3 km hike between Balnarring Beach and Merricks Beach, 70 km south of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

My route was along the clifftop, with good views from the lookout, then down a long staircase to the beach, and back along the beach to Balnarring.

The day was mostly overcast, but warm!

See all of the Photos of my visit, and the YouTube video.

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!

Balnarring Beach to Merricks Beach coastal hike

These pix were taken on Saturday November 5, 2011, on a 4 km (return) coastal hike from Balnarring Beach to Merricks Beach, 75 km south of Melbourne.

The day was hot, the tide was out a very long way, and there was plenty of action!

Go to this link to see all of the Photos of my trip!

Tulum Beach - coastal hike Balnarring Beach to Somers Beach

These pictures were taken on Saturday afternoon January 15, 2011, on a 5 km (return) coastal hike on Tulum Beach, 80 km SE of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

Tulum Beach extends from Balnarring Beach in the west to Somers Beach in the east. It's a popular destination for beachwalking, swimming, paddling, snorkling, yachting, kayaking, kite-surfing, hound-walking, canoeing, fishing, boating, photography, rockpooling and suntanning.

Cricket matches were in progress on the beach!

The Merricks Creek Estuary flows into the Bay at Somers, and can be easily crossed at flow tide.

The Coolart Woodlands are adjacent to the beach, on the opposite side of the Creek, reached by footbridges.

Lots of action on a hot summer's day!


See all of the Photos!

Windsurfing at Tulum Beach, Westernport Bay

These photos were taken on Tuesday afternoon November 30, 2010, at Tulum Beach, 75 km south of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

The nice beach runs between the village of Balnarring Beach and Somers Beach, and is adjacent to the Merricks Creek Foreshore Reserve and the Coolart Wetlands.

My 3 km hike started at the car park at the Balnarring Beach General Store, then along the beach to the footbridge leading to the Coolart Wetlands, and returned along the sand dunes.

There was plenty of windsurfing action!

See all of the Photos!

Balnarring to Merricks - coastal hike at low tide

These pictures were taken on Sunday November 21, 2010.

They show the scenery on a 3 km (return) beach hike between Balnarring and Merricks. on Westernport Bay, ahout 70 km south of Melbourne.

My expedition started at the end of Seawind Rd, then along the beach to Merricks Foreshore Reserve.

It was a warm day, low tide, and vast rockpools were exposed, which were explored!

See all of the Photos of my trip!

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!

Merricks Creek Track, Balnarring Beach

I visited Balnarring Beach, 70 km south of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay, on Saturday September 11, 2010.

From the car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I followed the Merricks Creek Walking Track beside the estuary, reaching Tulum Beach.

I continued along the Beach to the suspension bridge over the estuary, then explored the Somers western reserve, adjacent to the Schools' Activity Camp.

I returned along Tulum Beach to the car, about 4 km total.

Nice views across the Bay - some action on the beach, hounds, people, and kids!

See all of the Photos!

Balnarring to Merricks Coastal Hike

On Sunday afternoon August 22, 2010, I went down to Westernport Bay.

From Balnarring Beach, 60 km south of Melbourne, I did a 4 km (return) coastalwalk to the Merricks Beach, then returned along the clifftop through the Merricks Foreshore Reserve.

It was low tide, and many interesting rock formations were exposed.

The views from the clifftop across the Bay were excellent.

Merricks Beach is a small seaside village, and is one of the few coastal places within a 100 km radius of Melbourne that has been basically untouched by development.

An interesting fact about Merricks Beach is that all of the streets in the area are still unsealed and it has experienced little change since the 1960s. Because of this the area is very rustic and many Manna Gum and Pine trees line the side of these streets.

The area also has a significant Koala population. This particular population has been able to survive in this area because of the lack of development which has occurred here.

See all of the Photos of this trip!

Merricks Beach Clifftop Coastal Trail

On Saturday afternoon May 1, 2010, I visited Balnarring Beach, 70 km south of Melbourne.

From the main carpark at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I entered the Bird Sanctuary, following the foot-track to the western Beach.

I proceeded along the beach, reaching the cliffs, then up a foot-track to the top of the cliffs, at Cliff Rd.

From there I followed the main walking track along the cliff top to an observation lookout, then down a staircase to the Merricks Beach.

I returned to home base the same way, about 4 km total.

There were excellent views across Westernport Bay towards Phillip Island, and along the coast.

The clifftop is at an altitude of 35 m.

The Photos in my Album show the beach, other beachwalkers, hounds, and nice views from the clifftop through the pine trees. I have included an historical image showing the Beach as it was in 1940, looking towards the cliffs.

Action at Tulum Beach, Balnarring!

There was certainly plenty of action down at Tulum Beach, Westernport Bay, on Monday January 25, 2010!

It's part of the Balnarring Coast, some 70 km south of Melbourne.

I did the 4 km (return) hike along the beach from the main car park to Somers.

Nice place!

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Balnarring to Merricks Coastal Hike

On Sunday afternoon Dec 20 2009 I visited Balnarring Beach, on Westernport Bay, about 70 km south of Melbourne.

From the car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I did a 5 km (return) hike, which took me through the Bird Sanctuary, then along the coast to Merricks Beach.

Lots of movement, color, amd action - yachts - kites - seagulls - surfers - swimmers - beachcombers!

This is one of my favourite Beaches, so near to Melbourne!

See the complete set of Photos of my visit!

Balnarring to Merricks Coastal Hike

Balnarring Beach is about 70 km SW of Melbourne, a coastal community on Westernport Bay.

It is popular for fishing, boating, swimming, beachcombing and rockpooling.

I visited this nice beach on Anzac Day, Saturday April 25 2009, for a beach walk to Merricks Beach, a return hike of about 6 km.

The tide was in, so the reefs were not exposed, but there were good views along the coastline as far as West Head, Flinders, and across the Bay to Phillip Island.

Part of the walk passes through the interesting Balnarring Bird Sanctuary, adjacent to Robertson Park.

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

Balnarring Beach - Coastal Walk

Balnarring Beach is located on the northern section of Westernport Bay, about 60 km SW of Melbourne.

At low tide, a magnificent reef is exposed, with crabs and fishes galore!

The wide sandy beach is a 2 km strip, extending past the Coolart Wetlands. It is not a surf beach!

Its calm waters are excellent for swimming, paddling, snorkelling, canoes, kayaks, yachts, and catamarans.

I visited this excellent beach on March 11, 2009, and walked the 4 km (return) route westerly along the sand towards Pt Leo and back.

There were fine views across Westernport Bay towards Phillip Island.

See the full set of Photos of my trip

Balnarring Beach Walk - Westernport Bay

Balnarring Beach is located on the northern section of Westernport Bay, about 60 km SW of Melbourne.

At low tide, a magnificent reef is exposed, with crabs and fishes galore!

The wide sandy beach is a 2 km strip, extending past the Coolart Wetlands. It is not a surf beach!

Its calm waters are excellent for swimming, paddling, snorkelling, canoes, kayaks, yachts, and catamarans.

I visited this excellent beach on January 19, 2009, a day of extreme heat, and walked the 4 km (return) route along the sand.

See the full set of Photos of my beach walk!