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35-554: Barwon Heads (previously known as Point Flinders ) is a coastal township on the Bellarine Peninsula , near Geelong , Victoria , Australia. It is situated on the west bank of the mouth of the Barwon River below Lake Connewarre , and is bounded to the west by farmland, golf courses and the saline ephemeral wetland of Murtnaghurt Lagoon . At the 2016 census , Barwon Heads had a population of 3,875. Barwon Heads lies within

70-523: A camp was established at Indented Head . Port Phillip Association surveyor, John Helder Wedge , explored the Bellarine Peninsula , including the Barwon and its lakes, in August 1835. It is unknown when colonists first took up land at Barwon Heads but, by the 1870s, a township was formed, with a post office opening in the area on 15 December 1889 (renamed Connewarre East in 1890 when a new Barwon Heads PO opened in

105-594: A flood that lasted some weeks in 1952, until the construction of levee banks in the 1950s. The artist Jan Mitchell erected her first bollard sculptures in Barwon Heads. Visitors to the area will encounter the colourful soldier and parrot bollards, which designate a route for the local children from the primary school, through the streets to the bike path, park and playground. Mitchell went on to produce more than 100 bollards positioned along Waterfront Geelong . The town has an Australian rules football team competing in

140-555: Is surrounded by Corio Bay and the Outer Harbour to the north, Port Phillip to the north-east and east, The Rip to the south-east and Bass Strait to the south. The peninsula's eastern regions host several bays and islands such as The Rip , Lonsdale Bay, Swan Bay , Swan Island , Rabbit Island and various other small islands. The central and north-eastern regions host a gently undulating topography with no major rivers, mountains or significant landforms. The most distinct feature in

175-475: The Bellarine Football League . It has made finals in a number of recent seasons, losing the grand final in an upset to Modewarre in 2018 but avenged that loss in 2019 winning its first premiership since 1993 by beating Torquay in the grand final. Barwon Heads has a cricket club which won five premierships in eight seasons (2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11 and 2013/14). They defeated Queenscliff in

210-586: The Rural City of Bellarine before this time. The peninsula is also one of the parishes of the County of Grant , one of the Cadastral divisions of Australia . Some of the more significant and historical shipwrecks include; Black Rock on the southern coast (near Breamlea ) is the location of the main ocean outfall for Geelong 's sewage. Opened in 1915, initially the sewage was left untreated before being discharged into

245-402: The heritage-listed bridge with a new one. A proposal was put forward to align a new bridge with Geelong Road, permitting traffic to bypass the main shopping precinct and primary school, which would have required the demolition of three houses. An independent panel was appointed by the then Minister for Planning, Rob Hulls , to decide on a bridge location. Evidence was presented for and against

280-564: The A grade final on Sunday March 15, 2014 by 102 runs at Jan Juc. Barwon Heads was relegated to A2 Grade, but won their way back to A1 with a premiership and the next season, in 2023-24, won the A1 premiership, defeating Anglesea at Jan Juc. They are currently competing in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association. Barwon Heads also boasts a tennis, bowls, surf life saving, cycling, surfing, soccer and pony club. Golfers play at

315-728: The Barwon Coast and some small remnant pockets around the Barwon River lakes and wetlands, many of these last remaining areas are protected or included in parklands. The largest area of original native woodland vegetation remaining on the Peninsula lies in the 143 hectare Ocean Grove Nature Reserve . The peninsula contains several significant wetlands , many of which form part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site and are of international significance for

350-542: The Barwon Heads Golf Club on Golf Links Road, or at the course of the Thirteenth Beach Golf Links on Barwon Heads Road. Barwon Heads has great recreational fishing from its river to the heads, it caters for all types of anglers. The footballer Jaxson Barham and the entertainer Barry Crocker were born in Barwon Heads. Cadel Evans , the cyclist who won the 2011 Tour de France , owns a house in

385-627: The Bellarine, and this population doubles at peak periods during summer. The peninsula is a growing tourist region with a variety of beaches and seaside resorts and wineries; most of the peninsula is a part of the City of Greater Geelong . The area of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula was originally occupied by Indigenous Australian clans of the Wadawurrung nation, prior to European settlement in

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420-522: The Geelong Road site and the existing site, with the conclusion that the Geelong Road alignment was unsuitable for environmental, social, economic reasons. On 16 March 2007, it was announced that the current bridge would be improved and there were no plans to build a second bridge upstream. In 2010, a new Barwon Heads road bridge was constructed on the alignment of the existing one, making use of its components and design elements. A parallel pedestrian bridge

455-477: The Ocean Grove Nature Reserve. Marine mammals visit here include whales ( southern right and southern humpback ), endemic Burrunan dolphins , Australian fur seals and Australian sea lions . The peninsula is covered by two local government areas with a population of approximately 70,000. 35 per cent of residents on the Bellarine are aged sixty years or older, which is significantly higher than

490-535: The area and is regularly seen training on local roads. Bellarine Peninsula The Bellarine Peninsula ( Wadawurrung : Balla-wein or Biteyong ) is a peninsula located south-west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia , surrounded by Port Phillip , Corio Bay and Bass Strait . The peninsula, together with the Mornington Peninsula , separates Port Phillip Bay from Bass Strait . The peninsula itself

525-415: The area. This has resulted in a very substantial increase in property and land values, making the town an ideal location for property developers . Since then, the area has experienced a boom in tourist numbers during the summer months. Nearby Thirteenth Beach is a popular surfing location, the beach is named for its proximity to the 13th hole of the golf course. The town was subject to flooding, including

560-740: The early 19th century. This area was a favourite and extensive camping place for the Wadawurrung people. One Wadawurrung name for the area is 'Balla-wein' which refers to 'balla' meaning 'elbow' or 'reclining at the elbow'. The convict William Buckley escaped from the Sullivan Bay settlement in 1803, and lived among the Wadawurrung people for 32 years on the Bellarine Peninsula. In 1835, John Batman used Indented Head as his base camp, leaving behind several employees whilst he returned to Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's Land ) for more supplies and his family. In this same year, Buckley surrendered to

595-491: The elevated plateau . A narrow strip of deeply weathered Cretaceous Otway Group rocks occurs in outcrop along the southern edge of the Curlewis Monocline , which forms the northern boundary of the peninsula. Landslides and narrow gullies have formed along the northern edge of the monocline. A sheet of marine sands of Late Neogene age covers the southern portion of the uplifted Bellarine block. The majority of soils on

630-527: The end of human life on Earth, were filmed in the town. The Barwon Heads Golf Club clubhouse, dating from 1923 to 1924, located on Golf Links Road, is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register . The former Barwon Heads Bridge was also listed on the Register, but it was demolished in 2009 after being declared irreparable. A new bridge was constructed, which used components and design elements of

665-515: The movement of urban people to the countryside . The term "Tree Change" was first coined by ABC Ballarat radio mornings presenter Steve Martin on his radio talk back show after his five question morning challenge. In television series SeaChange , which originally ran 1998 to 2000, the main character Laura Gibson fulfils her escapist desire by leaving the city for a small seaside town after her career and family life in Melbourne falls apart. The series

700-450: The national average of 23 per cent. The Borough of Queenscliffe , situated on the peninsula, is the last remaining borough left in Victoria, and was the only local government area not changed in the mass Victorian municipality reorganisation of 1993 enacted by then Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett . The remainder of the peninsula is part of the City of Greater Geelong , having been part of

735-569: The ocean. A primary filtration system was installed in the 1970s, and in the 1980s the current plant was built with an upgraded filtration system, along with a 1.2 kilometre long ocean outfall. The plant was upgraded in 1997, with secondary filtration introduced, and a pipeline installed to transport recycled water to the flower farm at Torquay . A 60 kW capacity wind generator is located on Black Rock Road in Breamlea . Erected in November 1987 by

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770-522: The original bridge. A separate footbridge was built parallel to it. The original Barwon Heads Bridge , crossing the Barwon River between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove , was opened in 1927. Prior to that, there had been a rowing boat service across the river. The closure of the bridge was a central element in the ABC television series SeaChange . In July 2006, the Victorian government shelved plans to replace

805-412: The party led by John Helder Wedge and was later pardoned by Lieutenant-Governor Sir George Arthur , and subsequently given the position of interpreter to the natives. By the 1850s, the peninsula was known as ‘the granary of the colony’ and Portarlington became a major player in the wheat industry. Transport was by sea on Port Phillip Bay due to the poor roads. By the 1870s, excursion traffic to

840-425: The peninsula commenced, with tourists travelling from Melbourne by paddle steamers to enjoy fishing and swimming by the bay, with the coastal towns being major holiday resorts. In 1879, one of the first branch railways was built in Victoria, from South Geelong station to Drysdale and Queenscliff. Encouraging the growth in agricultural production and leading to the decline in the bay steamer traffic to towns along

875-588: The peninsula consist of grey-brown sedimentary sandy loams, overlaying medium to heavy textured clay. The Bellarine Hills are a significant variation with heavy black self mulching clay loams being well suited to intensive crop production. Mining of shell grit for glass making was an important industry on the shores of Swan Bay . Much of the native vegetation throughout the peninsula has been cleared for agriculture, notable exceptions being areas of land around Swan Bay, parklands in Portarlington, coastal areas along

910-428: The peninsula. The peninsula is showing signs of environmental consciousness and attitudes towards sustainability , much the same as the Mornington Peninsula . The Bellarine Peninsula is a gently to moderately undulating landform that protrudes in an east and north-easterly direction into Port Phillip . The peninsula is generally considered to begin its protrusion between the town of Torquay and east of Geelong . It

945-537: The protection of waterbirds and the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot . They are also recognised by BirdLife International in the Bellarine Wetlands and Swan Bay and Port Phillip Bay Islands Important Bird Areas . Brushtail and Ringtail Possums (Wadawurrung: 'Walert' for Brushtail and 'Barnong' for Ringtail) are endemic to the region and live within the Townships, Swamp Wallabies also live in

980-735: The territory of the Waddawurrung Balug clan, of the Wathaurong people. Its traditional name is Koornoo. Barwon derives from the Wathaurong word Barrwang or Baarwon meaning magpie. The river and upstream lakes ( Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake) were frequented by Aboriginal hunters and fishermen, as well as the escaped convict , William Buckley , who lived with the Wathaurong for 32 years. When European settlers first arrived in Port Phillip in June 1835,

1015-746: The then State Electricity Commission of Victoria and the Victorian Solar Energy Council (now Energy Victoria) as a demonstration, it was sold in 1994 to the Alternative Technology Association of Melbourne . Electricity production ceased at 1200hrs on 17 May 2003 due to an electrical generator burn-out, caused by moisture, salt, and electrical flash-over. The wind generator remains in place today intact. 38°12′43″S 144°31′37″E  /  38.212°S 144.527°E  / -38.212; 144.527 Seachange (demography) A similar term, treechange , describes

1050-539: The township). Fishing was the mainstay of the town in its early years. In the 1920s and 1930s, the town became a popular holiday resort, and a number of the wealthier families of Melbourne and the Western District built houses here. The summer period still sees a large influx of holidaymakers to the town. In 1959, the closing scenes of the film On the Beach , based on the novel of the same name by Nevil Shute , about

1085-576: The way, the line did not close until 1976. In recent years, with improved roads, the peninsula has become popular with people employed in Geelong, with population growth in towns such as Leopold , Drysdale and Ocean Grove . The Seachange demographic phenomenon has also led to increased growth. Ironically, the Australian TV series SeaChange was filmed at various locations on the peninsula, particularly at Barwon Heads , which helped promote tourism on

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1120-481: The western region of the peninsula is the Barwon River which flows through a series of large lakes and extensive wetlands before emptying into Bass Strait at Barwon Heads . The uplifted block of the Bellarine Peninsula forms a very weakly dissected undulating plain of low elevation, less than 150m. Drainage from the remnant basalts of the Palaeogene Older Volcanics forms a vaguely radial pattern on

1155-529: Was also built. During the late 1990s, Barwon Heads was the primary location of filming for the popular Australian television series, SeaChange . In the past decade, Barwon Heads has become subject to what is colloquially known in some parts of Australia as the " seachange effect ". Since the SeaChange television series first aired in 1998 there has been a significant increase in tourism and real estate sales and development (both commercial and residential) in

1190-465: Was one of the most popular programmes in Australia. The primary filming location was Barwon Heads on the Bellarine Peninsula . People shifting to the coast have been characterised as: The rate of growth in rural coastal areas in 2008 was 60% higher than the national average. Almost six million people already resided in coastal areas outside the mainland capitals in 2008. In addition to people seeking

1225-412: Was originally occupied by Indigenous Australian clans of the Wadawurrung nation, prior to European settlement in the early 19th century. Early European settlements were initially centred on wheat and grain agriculture, before the area became a popular tourist destination with most visitors arriving by paddle steamer on Port Phillip in the late 19th century. Today, approximately 70,000 people live on

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