The town of Portarlington was surveyed
in 1850 and was originally named Drayton but was renamed in
1851 in honor 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.
Photo: The Portarlinton Mill is a National Trust
property which is open to the public.
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.
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.
PORTARLINGTON
