Situated between Drysdale and Indented Head, Portarlington sits on the very edge of the Bellarine Peninsula.	Photo: Sitting high on the hill overlooking the waterfront is the historic Grand Hotel Photo: The Portarlington Mill is a National Trust property which is open to the public.
The town has a small shopping strip, which is adjacent, a large park and camping area. Portarlington has been attracting visitors and holidaymakers since the late 1900s. Local attractions in the area include the old flourmill, which is open for visitors during the summer months.
A market that is held on the last Sunday of every month during the warmer months is also very popular for both locals and visitors.

Portarlington - A brief history

The town of Portarlington was surveyed in 1850 and was originally named Drayton but was renamed in 1851 in honour of Lord Arlington.

The first European visitation of the Portarlington area dates to the 1800s with the most famous being Matthew who made camp at Indented Head, 6 km south-east of Portarlington.

The earliest European resident was the escaped convict William Buckley who was adopted by the local Aborigines who thought he was a reincarnation of a dead leader.

Early industries in Portarlington included a flour mill that was built in 1857 and a brick and tile works built in 1870, with fishing also being a important part of the area.

The first jetty to service the mill and fishing vessels was built in 1859. It was extended and later replaced in 1870 due to the increased workload of cargo that farmers choose to ship to Melbourne instead of using the poor conditions of the local roads.

in the late 1900s paddle steamers and other craft began bringing Melbournian holiday-makers to the region. Buildings like the Grand Hotel in Newcombe St and the rotunda opposite are a reminder of that time.

Did you know?

The restored rotunda which is located just down from the hotel was a popular meeting place during the steamship days of the late 19th century.