Barwon Heads - A brief history

European settlement at the mouth of the river began on the Ocean Grove side of the river 1854, settlement on the Barwon Heads was delayed until 1875 when it became a fishing small fishing village.

The nearby Lake Connewarre swamp lands rich in their native birdlife became a public reserve in 1891 and soon became a favorite spot for visitors and hunters..

 

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The name Barwon Heads comes from the world used by the Wathaurong people used for the area "Barra Warre N Yallok" - which means 'Great river which flows from the uplands to the sea'.

The first school in the area opened in 1885 and by the 1920's there as a hotel and several boarding houses and one of the finest golf courses in the country.

The town's landmark the bridge opened in 1927 and soon became a favorite holiday destination with hundreds flocking to the area over the summer months.

The rocky outcrops in the shallows and poor navigation caused many ships to sink and be grounded in the area. The Earl of Charlemont is one of the more famous vessels that sunk just off the bluff in 1853.