Tourist Information
The Mornington Visitor Information Centre is located at 320 Main St (cnr Elizabeth St). It supplies a brochure which explains the plaques associated with the older buildings in Main St.
Portsea Yacht Charters
The best way to experience the beauty of Port Phillip Bay and the exciting waters of the Victorian coastline is to take a cruise with Portsea Yacht Charters who run a variety of one day, overnight and extended cruises starting from the Portsea-Sorrento area. This is an outstanding way to experience the harbour. As Portsea Yacht Charters put it "Have you ever wanted to sail the Sorrento - Portsea coast on a luxury forty foot yacht? Or to moor off a quiet Portsea cove for a gourmet lunch and a bottle of chilled sav blanc whilst dolphins play around the yacht? Or visit the historic South Channel Fort, or glide silently by Point Nepean National Park whilst you enjoy a cold glass of Domain Chandon? If so, we would love to have you aboard."
The Coast
Schnapper Point has a boardwalk overlooking Mornington pier and harbour where there is a substantial yacht club and a boat-launching ramp. The jetty, first established in the 1850s, facilitated trade with Melbourne and, later, encouraged the visitations of holiday-makers. Nearby is Mornington Park which overlooks the harbour at the end of Main St. Established in 1854, it has a playground with a replica of a sailing ship and picnic/barbecue facilities. Adjacent is Mothers Beach which offers safe family-friendly waters and a shady picnic-barbecue area. The Esplanade follows the shoreline which consists of a series of small, attractive bays and safe beaches which extend for about 20 km from Mt Martha in the south to Mt Eliza in the north. To the south of Schnapper Point are Fishermans Beach, where there is another boat-launching ramp, Fossil Beach, where 25-million-year-old fossils have been found, and Mt Martha Beach. To the north are Sunnyside Beach and Ranelagh Beach. Limestone was mined at Fossil Beach in the 1860s and used for cement. Some remnants of the limeburners' kilns remain.
The Old Post Office Museum
The museum has displays of old telecommunications equipment and items pertaining to local history, along with Victorian memorabilia. They are housed in the former post office (1863) at the corner of Main St and The Esplanade. It is open Sundays and public holidays from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. but closed from mid-June to August.
The Court House Information Centre
Over the road, at 2 Main St, is the old Mornington courthouse (1860). It is now an information centre for Northern Mornington Peninsula Tourism and is open from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Wednesdays and from midday to 4.00 p.m. on weekends. Next door is the old police station (c.1862).
National Antique Centre
Located at 65 Tyabb Rd, the National Antique Centre covers 60,000 square feet with antiques, bric-a-brac, furniture, books, crystal, china, jewellery, linen, silver, tools and collectibles. There is also a tea room and a motorcycle display. It is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily.
St Peter's
St Peter's Church of England, in Queen St (which runs off Main St), is an impressive Gothic Revival structure built of brick in the early 1860s.
The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery is located in a sandstone building in Civic Reserve at the corner of Dunns Rd and Tyabb Rd (inland from the coast). It specialises in drawings such as those of Sir William Dobell, Sir Russell Drysdale and Fred Williams and features changing exhibitions, public lectures, workshops and musical events.
The gallery also produces a booklet which outlines a self-guided tour of the Mornington Peninsula, taking in vantage points which have prompted the brushes of artists since the 1850s. The booklet includes 16 paintings and notes. There are also artists' trails pertaining to Port Phillip, Point Nepean and Western Port.
It is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. There is an admission charge.
Oakbank Children's Farm
Oakbank Children's Farm is based on a property established c.1870. It offers children tractor rides and a chance to milk cows, feed farm animals etc. The farm is open from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. during public holidays and the second week of school holidays. It is located at 61 Oakbank Rd.
MT MARTHA
4 km south of Mornington is Mt Martha which is the name given to both the mountain (152 m above sea-level) and the quiet picturesque and rather exclusive holiday resort which is perched on the cliff line overlooking Port Phillip Bay. There is a general store, some quality shops, a community centre housed in a gracious old guest house, a few caravan parks, residential housing, a golf course, a boat-launching ramp and a pleasant beach backed by a foreshore reserve adjacent The Esplanade which continues south along the coastline to Safety Beach (see entry on Dromana). Behind the foreshore is Balcombe Creek Wetlands. The Balcombe Creek Walk (2 km) follows the boardwalks along the shore of the estuary from the carpark near the bridges to the sports reserves.
Mt Martha was named after Martha Lonsdale whose husband was the first police magistrate of Port Phillip. Operating from Mt Martha are Southern Fishing Charters, tel: (0419) 884 282.
Mt Martha Park
If you follow The Esplanade south from the main shopping area it passes Balcombe Point then Martha Point. If you turn off The Esplanade into Bradford Rd then turn left again into Forest Drive it leads through Mt Martha Park (52 hectares) to link up with the Nepean Highway. There is a picnic area in the park and excellent views of Port Phillip Bay and its headlands.
The Arboretum Walk (2.5 km) starts from the picnic area in Forest Drive. It proceeds down the hill then follows the circular track to the right and returns up the hill.
The Briars Historic Park
The Briars Historic Park is located on the Nepean Highway at Mt Martha. It is based on an estate which was established in 1840 by retired British army officer Captain James Reid. Reid named the 2000-ha property 'Tichin-Gorourke' (meaning 'voice of the frogs'), after the local Aboriginal name for what is now called Balcombe Creek. It was purchased in 1846 by Alexander Balcombe who renamed it 'The Briars' after his family home on St Helena. Balcombe built the earliest section of the graceful 12-room homestead between 1848 and 1851 with extensions in the 1860s. He became a prominent local citizen of Mornington and helped establish St Peter's Anglican Church and Osborne School.
The house and estate remained in the Balcombe family until 1977 when all but 8 remaining hectares around the home were sold to the shire. The house, with its old established trees, lawns, gardens and farm buildings was donated to the shire. Inside are items given by Napoleon to the Balcombe family, whom he befriended while in exile on St Helena in 1815. Historic farm machinery is on display in the farm buildings behind the stables.
Within the park is Josephine's Restaurant, located in the converted stables, and an information centre with audio-visual displays, family photographs, artefacts, information and an aquarium presenting some of the local wetland fauna.
A boardwalk leads from the information centre to two bird-hides situated within 30 ha of wetlands where there are more than 120 bird species, along with koalas, kangaroos and wallabies. There are also two walks which lead through a large area of native woodland. There is signage relating to the flora and fauna and a viewing area overlooking the wetlands.
Entry to the wildlife reserve, the bird-hides and access to the picnic/barbecue facilities is free of charge. These facilities are open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily. A fee is charged for access to the homestead and for the special events and school holiday programs held annually. The homestead is open from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily. The restaurant is open daily for morning and afternoon teas and lunch. It is also open on Friday and Saturday evenings and for Sunday breakfasts. The Briars Food and Wine Fair is held each year in late January.
MT ELIZA
If you follow The Esplanade north from Mornington it will take you the 12 km to Mt Eliza, an attractive village situated high on an outcrop overlooking Canadian Bay. The first European in the area was a man named John Thomas Smith who occupied land in the area in the late 1830s. James Davey bought 640 acres of coastal land in Mount Eliza and completed a homestead in 1851 on the headland overlooking what is now known as Daveys Bay. He built a jetty from which he shipped timber, cattle and tallow. The first Crown land was sold at Mount Eliza in 1854 with Smith purchasing two blocks.
Imposing holiday homes began to pepper the cliffs around the bays late in the 19th century. A post office and general store emerged in the 1920s, at which time Walter Burleigh Griffin designed the distinctive streets of the Ranelagh Estate. In the 1950s Mt Eiiza beach was used as a setting for the filming of On The Beach, starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner. It was in the late 1960s that it began to emerge as an exclusive residential area. Today Mt Eliza possesses a good commercial centre, specialty shops, beaches nearby and numerous holiday homes. The Mt Eliza Fair is held on the Melbourne Cup holiday and the Toorak College Fine Art Exhibition in August.
Manyung Gallery
Manyung Gallery is an enormous eight-gallery complex situated in a castle-like structure with moat and drawbridge. It displays contemporary sculpture and oil and watercolour paintings, and there is a cafe in the courtyard with an oak tree dating from the early 1860s. Located at 1408 Nepean Highway it is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekdays (except Wednesdays when it is closed) and 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekends, tel: (03) 9787 2953.
Canadian Bay Walk
Proceed from the carpark at the beach end of Williams Rd to Canadian Bay (1 km return).
Lintons
Lintons is a garden, home and nursery with tea room set amidst 2.5 acres. The winner of the 1999 Best Garden Centre in Australia award, it is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily and is located at the corner of the Nepean Highway and Canadian Bay Rd, tel: (03) 9787 2122.
Collectors Pieces Antiques
Collectors Pieces Antiques are located at 187 Mt Eliza Way. They sell Georgian and Victorian furniture, a large collection of fine china and bric-a-brac, and they are open from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday or by appointment. The associated "Serendipity Room" has an extensive selection of Victorian and Edwardian furniture and is open on weekends only, tel: (03) 9787 1922.
Mt Eliza Regional Park
Mt Eliza Regional Park is a compact regional park established around the former Moorooduc Quarry with impressive views across the Moorooduc Plains. Access is from Alison Road or the Moorooduc Highway. There is a 1.5 km circuit walking trail with lookout points. Park in Two Bays Rd picnic area, cross the road and follow the track up the hill and around the edge of the quarry. There are fine views across the Moorooduc Plains.
Mt Eliza Wineries
Morning Star Estate is located on an exclusive property established in 1867. It features manicured gardens, fine views of Port Phillip Bay and facilities for hosting functions and events. The cellar door produces chardonnay and pinot noir and is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and from Thursday to Sunday for evening meals. Opera in the Vineyards is held in January and other concert events are planned. It is located in Sunnyside Rd, tel: (03) 9787 7760, or fax: (03) 9787 7160.
Mt Eliza Estate, at the corner of Sunnyside Rd and the Nepean Highway, offers a large range of wines that include riesling, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet merlot and shiraz grapes. It is open from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily, tel: (03) 9787 0663, or fax: (03) 9781 2106. The email address is info@mtelizaestate.com.au
MOOROODUC
Moorooduc is located just inland from Mornington and it retains a rural character. Today horse studs, wineries and alternative farming adventures have supplanted the older fruit orchards and grain crops. The Perfumed Gardens Spring Show is held in late November at the corner of Derril and Moorooduc Rds.
Mornington Tourist Railway
The Mornington Railway Preservation Company offers steam train rides which run along a 12-km track between Moorooduc and Mornington, stopping in-between at Tanti. Carriages are hauled by a locomotive from the golden era of steam. A heritage diesel locomotive is used on days of total fire ban. The major station is located at Moorooduc, on the Moorooduc Highway, near the intersection with Two Bays Rd. It has a large car park, a food and drink kiosk, a collection of heritage railway equipment, historical photographs, a souvenir shop, a picnic-barbecue area and toilets. On operating days, the trains depart Moorooduc station at 11.00 a.m., 12.15 p.m., 1.30 p.m., 2.45 p.m. and 4.00 p.m., stopping at the Tanti station (next to Bungower Rd) twenty minutes later, and reaching Mornington shortly thereafter.
They depart Mornington for Moorooduc at 11.30 a.m., 12.45 p.m., 2.00 p.m., 3.15 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., stopping at Tanti ten minutes later. The return fares cost $6.60 for adults, $5.50 for pensioners and $3.30 for children. Single fares are $3.30 for adults and $2.20 for children. To find out which days the railway operates, ring (03) 9789 2087, or go to http://www.visitor.com.au
Moorooduc Coolstores and TV World Media Museum
Opposite the Moorooduc Station, at 990 Moorooduc Rd (on thecorner with Eramosa Rd), is an agglomeration of shops and businesses called the Moorooduc Coolstores. Within the complex is TV World Media Museum, housing a large collection of media memorabilia relating to the cinema, press, radio, television and popular music. There are also fully-equipped working television and radio studios, and early classics of film and television are screened in a small theatrette. They are open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Admission is charged and family tickets are available.
Moorooduc Wineries
Ermes Estate, established in1 989, produces pinot grigio, chardonnay, riesling, merlot and an award-winning cabernet sauvignon. It is located at 2 Godings Rd and is open weekends and public holidays from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. A light lunch is served on the third Sunday of each month. The mobile number is (0418) 357 206.
Stumpy Gully Vineyard is an award-winning business open on weekends from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. It is located at 1247 Stumpy Gully Rd and produces merlot, pinot gris, chardonnay, cabernet, sauvignon blanc, sangiovese, marsanne and pinot grigio.
Barak Estate has award-winning wines and Federation-style accommodation. Offering chardonnay, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon varieties, it is open every weekend from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and is located at Lot 4, Barak Rd.
Mornington Vineyards Estate, established in 1988, produces sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz. It is open weekends and public holidays from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and is located in Moorooduc Rd, Moorooduc South.
Moorooduc Estate is located at 501 Derril Rd and is open from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on weekends. It produces chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. On the estate is Jill's Restaurant which is open from midday to 3.00 p.m. from Friday to Sunday and from 7.00 p.m. to late on Friday and Saturday nights. Accommodation is also available.
Phaedrus Estate, at 220 Mornington-Tyabb Rd, is open on weekends from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
The Garden Vineyard, at 174 Graydens Rd, produces pinot noir and pinot grigio and is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on the first weekend of every month. The email address is thegardenvineyard@pac.com.au
Barrymore Estate Vineyard, at Tuerong, is open by appointment only.
The Bottom Drawer Antique Centre
The Bottom Drawer Antique Centre is located at the corner of Mornington-Tyabb Rd and Derril Rd in Moorooduc. This enormous building covers an acre and houses over 20 dealers in antiques, bric-a-brac, old tools, linen, dolls, jewellery, china, furniture, books, radios, silverware and kitchenware. It is open from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday, along with public holidays and every day from Boxing Day to the end of January.
Nedlands Lavender Farm
Nedlands Lavender Farm and Tea Rooms, at 500 Old Moorooduc Rd, Tuerong, has a lavender display garden, a herb garden, products made from lavender and other items, including hand-made soaps, oils, incense, candles, body products, teas, biscuits, ice-cream, conserves, along with giftware and crafts. Lunches and morning and afternoon teas feature fruits, vegetables and herbs grown on the farm. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
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