Portarlington Through the Years
Portarlington was originally home to the Wathaurong People for thousands of years. The traditional boundaries of the Wathaurong people span along the Victorian coastline from Werribee to Lorne. It’s believed that the Wathaurong People in the Portarlington region lived on mussels, something the town is now famous for.
The first British exploration of Portarlington was in 1802. The origin of the town name is quite ambiguous. Some historians believe the town was named after Portarlington in Ireland, a market town southwest of Dublin. Others argue that Portarlington owes its name to Sir Henry Bennet, the 1st Earl of Arlington.
One of the earliest known European settlers in Portarlington was Henry Baynton. Working as a butcher, he moved from Hobart in the 1840s, to set up a cattle shipping service between Portarlington and Tasmania. Surveyed town lots began selling in 1851.
The Bellarine Peninsula was an agricultural region used mainly for cereal crops, hay, onion, peas, and potatoes. In 1857 a flour mill was built which is now a National Trust Property and a tourist attraction which can still be visited today. Due to poor road conditions and expensive tolls, farmers were encouraged to ship produce to Melbourne, so the mill owners built a private jetty in 1859. The jetty was lengthened in 1870 and eventually rebuilt entirely a few years later. In 1861 a flour mill in nearby Drysdale burnt down which largely contributed to the success of the Portarlington mill.
By the 1960s, Portarlington established itself as a popular holiday destination and retirement area. With a golf course, tennis courts, a bowling club, and plenty of shops, there were an abundance of amenities for holidaymakers. As more people began visiting Portarlington, more began falling in love with the quaint beachside town and decided to call it home.
Flash forward to 2021 and Portarlington has maintained its beauty, relaxed coastal atmosphere and sense of community – all of which await you when you call Panorama home.
