Portland

Portland is well serviced with hotels and motels. There are a considerable number of self catering and holiday type accommodation such as bed and breakfasts (also known as bnb and b&b), apartments, holiday houses, cottages, cabins, guesthouses as well as tourist or caravan parks, and backpackers or hostels. Also check out the self contained accommodation and bed and breakfasts in the nearby towns of Cape Bridgewater and Cape Nelson.

Self catering accommodation – Apartments, holiday houses, cottages, cabins, b&b’s and guesthouses in Portland are:

• Arbour Patters Cottage
• Clifftop Accommodation Portland
• Discovery Coast Holiday Accommodation
• Gawler by the Sea
• Lorelei Bed and Breakfast
• Mac's Hotel Bentinck
• Palmer Street
• Richmond Henty
• Sandilands
• Sheoak Tinntean
• Victoria House
• Whaler's Cottage

Self catering accommodation – Apartments, holiday houses, cottages, cabins, b&b’s and guesthouses in Cape Bridgewater and Cape Nelson are:

• Panoramic Drive

Tourist, Caravan or Holiday Parks in Portland are:

• Henty Bay Beachfront Van & Cabin Park
• Portland Claremont Holiday Village
• Centenary Caravan Park
• Portland Claremont Tourist Park
• Dutton Way Caravan Park

The Motels in Portland are:

• Quality Hotel and Motel Bentinck
• Richmond Henty Hotel & Motel
• Comfort Inn Richmond Henty
• Admella Motel
• Best Western Whalers Rest Motor Inn
• Grosvenor Motel
• Mariner Motel
• Melaleuca Motel
• Victoria Lodge Motor Inn
• William Dutton Motel

The Hotels in Portland are:

• Gordon Hotel
• Macs Hotel Bentinck
• Richmond Henty Hotel
• Royal Hotel

The Backpacker or Hostel in Portland is:

• Belleveue Backpackers

Portland Information
(including Cape Bridgewater)

Portland Bay was named in 1800 by the British navigator James Grant, who sailed in the Lady Nelson along the Victorian coast in honour of the Duke of Portland. The bay, the only deep sea port between Adelaide and Melbourne, offers a sheltered anchorage against the often wild weather of Bass Strait. By the early 1800s, whalers and sealers were working the treacherous waters of Bass Strait and Portland Bay provided good shelter and fresh water which enabled them to establish the first white settlement in the area.

Portland is an attractive and scenic holiday centre situated on Portland Bay 360 km west of Melbourne and 75 km east of the South Australian border. As the only deep-sea port between Adelaide and Port Phillip it is a major exporting centre for the produce of south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia - principally wool, grains and secondary manufactures made in Portland itself. Other contributions to the local economy are made by an aluminium smelter (employing 700 people), the fertiliser industry, woolstores, and the fishing industry (focusing particularly on crayfish, lobsters, shark, abalone and deep-sea trawling).
Portland has a current population of around 12,000.

Portland is steeped in history, with its past playing a big role in its present and future. Many of its 200 heritage buildings from the 1800's are now fine places to dine and/or to stay. Edward Henty was only 24 years old when he settled in Portland Bay in November 1834, the year before Batman settled Melbourne making Portland the oldest settlement in Victoria. Visitors can enjoy the special ambience and when it comes to dining, the local fishing industry ensures only the freshest seafood is on the menu.
Portland Bay is ideal for boating, fishing and sailboarding and there are many fine surfing spots, some of the best surf this side of Bells Beach. The choice spots are Watertower, Blacknose, Crumpets, Yellow Rock and Murrells.

Portland has a vibrant cultural diversity, with many potters, painters, musicians, quilters, lead lighters, wood-turners, photographers, cinematographers, multi-media artists, print-makers, jewellers, sculptors, actors and writers. Many of these talents come together under the banners of CEMA Inc (Council for Encouragement of Music and the Arts), or the associated The Arts Company.

The Portland Art Centre, on the corner of Glenelg and Bentinck Streets, incorporates a gallery and theatre, where local and visiting performances are regularly staged. The Arts Company is located in the heritage precinct of Portland in refurbished old buildings in Julia Street. Along with community workshops and studios, local artists' works are also for sale.

In November during the weekend preceding the Melbourne Cup, the city comes alive with the Portland Bay Festival - featuring the 'Break Fest', a youth rock concert, a major annual Rotary Art Show (in the Civic Hall) and the celebrated 3 Bays Marathon, Relay & Walk. Annual events include a foreshore carnival in January, a fishing competition in February, the Dahlia Festival in March, a jazz festival and Pioneer Week in November and a surfboat marathon in December.

Things to See and Do:   
Tourist Information - The Portland Maritime Discovery and Visitors' Centre is located on the foreshore of Portland, adjacent Lee Breakwater Rd. It functions as the local information centre and it also has displays concerning aspects of local maritime history whaling, navigation, rescue, shipwrecks, marine life, marine exploration and the story of European immigration and settlement. It is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily. Maps are available for the Historic Shipwrecks Trail which follows a series of signposts around the coastline to wreckage sites, and the Wood Wine and Roses Forest Drive which heads north-west through the Cobboboonee State Forest to Heywood. A Volcanic Trail is also being developed which takes in the area's volcanic sites.
The Centre can also provide information about the opportunities for whale watching between June and September when the whales sometimes visit.

Historic Walks - The Mary MacKillop Walk - This takes in buildings and sites which were in existence during Mary MacKillop's stay at Portland from 1862 to 1866. A leaflet outlines from the Visitors Centre outline the significant places.
 
General Historic Walk - Turn left off Bentinck St into Tyers St. At no.5, to the left, is Victoria House, a two-storey, bluestone Georgian-style building dating back to 1853. It became McKenzie's Hotel in 1856 and a guesthouse in 1864. Next door is a worker's cottage from the 1850s. A little further along the road is the Presbyterian Church. The nave was opened in 1850. At the corner of Tyers and Percy Sts is the Royal Hotel, built as the Lamb Inn. Walk south along Percy St. The building at the south-western corner of Percy and Henty Sts was built in 1876 as a drapery. No.82 Percy St was built as a store in 1858. Walk west along Henty St. About halfway along the block, to the left, is a two-storied stone house with wooden louvres that dates back to the mid or late 1840s.

Return along Henty St and turn right, back into Percy St. In the green outside of the Wesley Uniting Church is a Spanish cork tree planted c.1875. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1865. 57 Percy St is a single-storey bluestone structure built in 1867-68 for merchant and town mayor Joseph Marriott. On the other side of the road, at no.60, is a two-storey bluestone shop and residence built in 1860-61. At the north-eastern corner of Percy and Julia Sts is the ANZ bank, built of bluestone in 1856 to a Classical design for the Union Bank. Turn left into Julia St. To the immediate right, at 41-43, is the old Britannia Inn (1847), now commercial premises. Walk back along Julia St across Percy St to St Stephen's Church (1856), a Gothic bluestone structure which has strong associations with the first generation of the Henty family. The building was intended to be of iron construction and when stone was decided upon, Edward Henty (who conducted Portland's first services in a woolstore in 1834) bought the iron edifice for the town's flour mill. The first Anglican church, erected in 1843, is the present church hall.

Further along Julia St, on the same side of the road (at no.65) is 'Claremont' (1852), a gracious two-storey residence built by Stephen Henty for his brother Francis. Note the paired timber posts and timber balustrading. Cross over Hurd St. At 81 Hurd St is a two-storey bluestone home built in 1854. Continue along Julia St. On the Palmer St corner is the National School (1856), now a private residence. Return along Julia St, back across Hurd St. To the left, at 72 Julia St, is a single-storey stone cottage built before 1856. The two-storey bluestone Georgian home adjacent dates from 1855 or 1873, depending on which source is credited. Further along Julia St, also to the left, is a two-storey white doctor's residence (1878). 58a Julia St is a two-storey brick-and-bluestone warehouse built c.1853. Turn right into Percy St. To the left, set back from the road a little, at no.36, is a former Masonic Lodge (1876) which became the Baptist Church in 1889. A little further along, on the same side of the road, is the Old State Bank Gallery (1880). The facade has been modernised. Cross the road and walk back along Percy St a short distance to St Stephen's parish hall which was constructed in 1843 as a school. A little further along, set back from the road, at no.33, is 'Sandilands' (1850s), an imposing two-storey mansion with Classical motifs and a Doric portico. It is now a restaurant.

Adjacent is the Classical facade of the Portland Club built of bluestone as a woolstore and auction room in 1860. At no.23 is Benjamin's, a two-storey bluestone structure built in 1854. Turn left into Gawler St. To the immediate right, at no.25, is the newly restored Builder's Inn (c.1847). Turn left back into Percy St. At no.4 is the Portland Inn (1840) which is the oldest building in Victoria still on its original site. It is now a private home.
The single-storey cement-rendered brick attic house at 5 Percy St was built c.1857 with a later cast-iron verandah. Turn left into Glenelg St. The timber cottage at no.16 dates from 1854 and the small wooden cottage at no.8 date from the 1840s. Turn right into Bentinck St. The house at 19 Bentinck St is a bluestone Classical structure built in 1873 with an unusual and detailed timber verandah. Head north, back up Bentinck St. Cross Glenelg St. To the right is the former Western Artllery drill hall (1888). On the other side of the road is the Steam Packet Inn.

Steam Packet Inn - The Steam Packet Inn is located at 33 Bentinck St. One of the oldest extant structures in town, it was built some time prior to December 1842 on land purchased in the town's first allotment sales. Later used as police barracks and reputedly a house of prostitution, it is a 'balloon' frame prefabricated construction with a steep shingled roof, gables and attic dormer windows. The inn was built of Tasmanian timber owing to the lack of milling facilities in Portland. A rare example of its type it is now a guesthouse. The Inn is open to the public on Thursdays and Sundays from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Botanic Gardens - At the eastern end of Glenelg St are the Botanic Gardens. Work began on the Gardens in 1857 with the assistance of Ferdinand von Mueller who was the curator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. The land was prepared with the help of 80 Chinese prisoners from Portland Gaol. There are croquet lawns, historical trees and particularly impressive floral displays.

Historic Walk continued - Cross over Glenelg St and walk along Bligh St. At the corner of Bligh St and the aptly named Cliff St is a cottage built in 1872 for the governor of the gaol. Turn left into Cliff St. On the immediate left is the Classical-style courthouse with its Tuscan portico. It is one of a group of very early bluestone public buildings on the cliff above the port. Built in 1845 it is thought to be the state's oldest courthouse. When the court was in session the judge used to make the journey from Melbourne by sea. The gaol is next to it. When Beach Rd was being constructed, an escape tunnel was found leading from the gaol to the cliff. A little further along Cliff St, by the Charles St corner, is the Rocket Shed (1887) which was used to house rockets and breeching buoy equipment to assist ships in distress.

History House - Duck down Charles St to History House, a museum dedicated to local history which features maritime displays, a photographic collection and family research. It is located in the old bluestone town hall which was built to a Classical design in 1863. The central chamber features a basalt pediment and Tuscan pilasters. It is open from 10.00 a.m. to midday and from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily,

Historic Walk continued - Return to Cliff St and continue west towards Bentinck St. To the left is a watch house (1850), which was later used as a police residence. Next door is the old customs house (1849) which is the oldest Commonwealth building still used for its original purpose. It replaced a bark-and-slab hut erected in 1840. The partially sunken basement consists of rough-hewn bluestone with contrasting dressed stones in the office section. It is considered a unique example of Tasmanian colonial architecture. At the corner of Cliff and Bentinck Sts is Mac's Hotel (1856). The three-storey cast-iron balconies were a 1909 addition. The town's first street light was erected outside. Turn right into Bentinck St. To the left, at no. 57, is an old two-storey brick woolstore with a shingled roof built 1845-46.

The Gordon Hotel, at no.63, was built in 1890 to replace an earlier building dating from 1842 when the licence was first issued. It is the oldest continuous license in Victoria. At the corner of Bentinck St and Julia St is the former London Inn, a two-storey rendered brick structure built from 1844 on land purchased by Stephen Henty in 1840. It was the site of Portland's first council meeting in 1856 and is now a shopping complex. Turn left into Julia St. At no.3 is a wool storage shed which was owned by Stephen Henty (1840s). No.7 is a bluestone store (1854). To its rear is a late 1840s brick store. 21 Julia St was built in 1849 as the Union Inn. Cross over the road and return back towards Bentinck St. At nos 8-10 is a two-storey bluestone woolstore and, at no.6, the Old Bond Store (1852). Both were built for the Henty brothers' business. The former is possibly the state's oldest surviving warehouse and the Portland Observer was printed at the latter from 1889. Turn left into Bentinck St. To the left is a whitewashed bluestone wall which is all that remains of one of the first Henty family homes (1846). They are now part of the Richmond Henty Hotel complex).

Lookout Tower Museum - The World War II Memorial Lookout Tower in Wade St (which runs off the northern end of Bentinck St) offers fine panoramic views of Portland and the surrounding district. This 25-metre structure was built as a water tower in the 1930s. In the 1990s it became a lookout and museum with displays relating to Portland's involvement in World War II. It is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Burswood Gardens - At the southern end of Bentinck St is a bridge which spans the canal that adjoins the ocean to Fawthrop Lagoon. On the far side of the bridge, to the immediate left, is Burswood, a fine bluestone Regency-style mansion built in the early to mid 1850s for pioneer settler Edward Henty. His third home, it is said to be a copy of a Henty family home in Sussex. He brought the framework, 18 000 hardwood shingles and 2500 bricks from Tasmania. It is now a bed-and-breakfast.

Fawthrop Lagoon - The Canal Bridge is one point of access to Fawthrop Lagoon which was named after Portland's first harbour master. It is a permanent wetland offering 5 km of gentle walking tracks and birdwatching opportunities (there is a birdhide). Another point of access is from Glenelg St.

Car Museum- Adjacent the lagoon, at the corner of Glenelg and Percy Streets, is the Powerhouse Car Museum which is home to a collection of veteran, vintage classic cars and motorcycles, stationary engines, antique signs, petrol pumps, tools, model cars, tractors, garage equipment and other memorabilia. It is open weekdays from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. and weekends and school holidays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Portland Battery- Like many such structures, the Portland Battery was built in 1889 during a pervasive fear of Russian invasion. It has been fully restored and includes the original lamp passage and powder magazine. One of the canons dates back to 1811. Contact the Visitors' centre for firing times. It is located in Victoria Parade.

Kingsley Winery - Kingsley Winery is located in an historic mansion (1893) at 6 Kingsley Court (which runs off Bancroft St), high on Battery Hill overlooking the harbour. It is open daily from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. (longer in summer) and offers riesling, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

Point Danger - Follow the Madeira Packet Rd south out of town, along the coastline and past the golf course. It leads by Blacknose Point and Crumpets (both noted surfing areas). Before you get to the aluminium smelter take the signposted left which leads to Point Danger. There is a viewing area (binoculars are recommended) which overlooks Lawrence Rocks, just offshore. This is the largest nesting site of the Australasian gannet in the Southern Hemisphere.
 
The Smelter Nature Walk - If you ignore the turnoff to the Smelter and continue along the main road, it leads past the smelter to a dead end which is the start of the Smelter Nature Walk, a 2.2-km paved track that passes through coastal cliff-top scenery.

Cape Nelson State Park
Cape Nelson State Park (210 ha) is 12.3 km south of the centre of Portland along a sealed road. It features high rugged cliffs, a species of eucalyptus known as soap mallee which is found nowhere else in Victoria, and a fine historic lighthouse. From the city centre follow Bentinck Rd south. It becomes Cape Nelson Rd once it crosses the canal bridge, then veers south-west and out through undulating countryside. En route you will pass Nelsonberry which sells fresh brambleberries and raspberries in season. 9 km from Portland, at the intersection of Cape Nelson Rd and Scenic Drive, is the signposted start of the Sea Cliff Nature Walk. A guiding leaflet is available from the box near the signpost or from the Discovery Centre. The 3-km loop track focuses on the area's natural history, leading west through scrubland, open countryside and along the cliff-line. If you wish, when you reach the cliffs, you can follow a portion of the Great South Walk around the coast to the lighthouse. Alternatively, you can drive south for another 3 km to the end of Cape Nelson Rd where you will find the circular-plan lighthouse (1883-84) and two lighthouse keepers' residences, one of which features four bedrooms available for rental. Excellent views are also available on the Lighthouse Nature Walk (6 km) which heads north then veers east out to the coast. The return to Portland can be made along Scenic Road (unsealed) which heads east from the Sea Cliff Nature Walk car park out to the coast. En route is a side road on the right which leads to a picnic area. When Scenic Rd reaches the coast, you can turn right for a trek along the edge of Nelson Bay or left to return to Portland. If you take the left back to Portland it leads past 'The Enchanted Forest' where an old land slip below the level of the cliff top has been covered by dense vegetation. A 45-minute round trip walk passes through the canopy to lookouts and boardwalks with views over the cliffs and ocean. A little further along Scenic Rd is Yellow Rock, a large limestone formation on the edge of the cliff. There is a 10-minute return walk. This is a popular surfing area. There are no campsites within the park.

Shelly Beach
Follow Otway St westwards off Bentinck St. It soon becomes Bridgewater Rd which traverses rolling farmland. 16 km out there is a signposted side track which leads down to Shelly Beach on Bridgewater Bay. There are fine views and good fishing from the rocky outcrops.

Bridgewater Beach
3 km further along Bridgewater Rd is Bridgewater Beach, an outstanding 4-km beach noted for its surfing, sailboarding, swimming and surf-fishing opportunities. Boats can be launched from the beach. There is a kiosk and surf lifesaving club.

Cape Bridgewater
From the Bridgewater kiosk, drive up the hill and pull in at the car park opposite the tearooms. There are excellent views. This is the starting point of a strenuous two-hour walk due south past Seal Caves to a viewing platform at Cape Bridgewater that overlooks one of the largest colonies of Australian fur seals on the mainland. The return journey takes in views of the Bridgewater Lakes to the north and Discovery Bay to the west.
Bridgewater Road continues on past the tearooms for another 3 km to the Blowholes car park. There is an information board directing you to the Blowholes which are formations worn in the volcanic rock at the base of the cliffs. During a good swell spectacular spouts of sea spray are forced through these formations with a roar. From the Blowholes, red markers lead north for 2 km past spectacular lookout points to a green marker which denotes the spot of the 'watering place'. You can also walk south-east along the coastline from the Blowholes to the seal-viewing platform (part of the Great South Walk). This route is about three hours return and it takes in the highest coastal cliffs in Victoria (130 metres). There are also organized daily boat tours to the colony with Seals by Sea, ph: (03) 5523 5617. The best weather conditions prevail from January to March although the seals are there all-year round. This walk from The Blowholes leads past the 'Petrified Forest' which is thought to have developed when a moonah forest was smothered by a large sand dune, creating unusual sandstone formations around the decaying tree trunks. Cape Bridgewater itself was once a volcanic island linked to the mainland when a sand spit calcified and turned to limestone.

Discovery Bay National Park
Cape Bridgewater is part of Discovery Bay Coastal Park (8590 ha) which constitutes an outstanding sweep of coastline extending westwards for 50 km to Nelson, taking in vast expanses of rolling white sand dunes, sweeping beaches, tranquil lakes and rugged rock formations. There are grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies and over 140 bird species. Coastal, swamp and heath vegetation is prolific. The more westerly sections of the park are accessible off the Portland-Nelson Road. There are boat-launching ramps and surf fishing opportunities. Camping is available at Swan Lake Flats (access is signposted off the Portland-Nelson Rd) from whence a walking track follows Johnston's Creek to the ocean beach.

Bridgewater Lakes and Limestone Caves
If you return along Blowholes Rd and Bridgewater Rd you will come to a turnoff on the left into Bridgewater Lakes Rd which heads north to the freshwater lakes, located just inland from Descartes Bay. Coastal lagoons separated from the sea by sand dunes, they are sheltered and well-suited to picnics, swimming, waterskiing, fishing, canoeing and boating. There is a boat ramp at the Aquatic Club. Opposite the entrance to Bridgewater Lakes are limestone caves which provide an excellent viewing area across Discovery Bay. Cars can be parked in the Lakes car park from whence an easy-going walking track leads to Discovery Bay. Bridgewater Lakes Rd loops back eastward, becoming Heath Rd which rejoins the Portland-Nelson Rd just to the north-west of Portland.

Mt Richmond National Park
Mt Richmond National Park (1733 ha) is located just behind Discovery Bay National Park. It is essentially an extinct volcano formed of porous rock covered with a layer of sand blown inland from Discovery Bay. It was named after Richmond Henty, Stephen Henty's oldest son and one of the first white children born in the area. The park is noted for its spring wildflowers and abundant wildlife including koalas, echidnae, wallabies, potoroos, Eastern grey kangaroos, copperhead and tiger snakes, emus and numerous other bird species. There are over 450 plant species, including 50 varieties of orchid. A number of pleasant walking tracks lead though heathland and forest. They are outlined in a pamphlet available from Parks Victoria. A sealed road leads to a lookout tower atop Mt Richmond which offers panoramic views of Discovery Bay, Cape Bridgewater and Portland. Visitors can enjoy picnicking (there are wood barbecues), birdwatching, walking and wildflowers. To get there follow the road to Nelson for 16.2 km and take the signposted turnoff into the park.

The Great South Walk
The Great South Walk constitutes more than 250 km of circular walking track which starts and finishes at Portland. Constructed by community groups it initially heads north through farmland, veering westwards through native forests and the Lower Glenelg National Park, following the southern bank of the Glenelg River to its mouth near Nelson, then returning eastwards along the coastline through Discovery Bay National Park, with optional detours past Lake Monibeong and to Mt Richmond. It then leads to Descartes Bay and around Cape Bridgewater, past The Springs, the Petrified Forest, the seal colony, Bridgwater Bay, Cape Nelson, Point Danger and back to Portland. Sections are accessible by car to allow shorter day or weekend walks. The best times are from October to December or late March to early June. A detailed brochure is available from Parks Victoria offices. There are canoeing opportunities and numerous camping spots.

Narrawong
Narrawong is 16 km north-east of Portland on Portland Bay, via the Princes Highway. It is a small town with an artesian bore, a caravan park and a safe swimming and surfing beach. Bream fishing is popular in the Surry River and there is a boat ramp at the camping reserve. The Narrawong cemetery contains the grave of William Dutton, the first European settler at Portland. Boyers Road leads off the highway to the Saw Pit Picnic Area in Narrawong State Forest. There is a replica of the old sawpit which was once located here. The original was probably used to process the area's first commercial timber. A short walk leads to Whaler's Point where Aborigines once watched for whales. They lit fires to alert whalers who then made the kill and gave some of the whale eat to the Aborigines as recompense for their assistance.

Portland Bay Lavender Farm
Portland Bay Lavender Farm is located on the Princes Highway, 10 km east of Portland between Narrawong and Allestree. It has a shop and cafe selling products, gifts, plants and refreshments and is open most days from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Surrey Ridge Picnic Area
Travel north on the Heywood Rd and just after crossing the Surrey River bridge turn left down Coffeys Lane (it should be signposted for Surrey Ridge). After about 5 km it reaches a T-intersection. Turn left into Jacky Swamp Rd. Continue along to the next T-intersection and turn right onto Cutout Dam Road. It is signposted about 3 or 4 km along this road. The picnic area is situated amid messmate forest on a bend in the Surrey River. There are facilities and two walks through river vegetation, blackwood, manna gums, ferns, rushes, sedges, taller flowering shrubs and Australian clematis. Also on the Heywood Rd is Bolwarra Berries Strawberry Farm. Pick your own from October to April
 

Barrett's Winery
Barrett's Winery, established in 1983, is located 20 km west, off the Portland-Nelson Rd at Gorae West (follow the signs from the Portland-Neslon Rd). It sells riesling, traminer, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon and is open daily from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Jackass Fern Gully
One of the most attractive and popular picnic spots in the area is Jackass Fern Gully. Follow the Nelson Rd for about 20 km then turn into the T & W Road and it is 19 more kilometres to the signposted entrance (consult the Discovery Centre for further details). There are picnic facilities and walking tracks which lead to the fern gullies.