The whole Bellarine Peninsula was once
named Indented Head, it was named by Matthew Flinders who
saw the peninsula from across the bay at Arthur's Seat in
1802. Both Flinders and John Batman separately visited the
areas of both St Leonards and Indented Heads over the next
few years.
While Batman was said to have landed at the town now known
as Indented Head he set up his camp at St Leonards possibly
due the lack fresh water at Indented Head. By the late 1800s
the most popular industry in Indented Heads was wheat
farming and by the 1920s it became a popular camping spot.
Today over summer months thousands of
campers flock to the area, of interest near the camping
areas an old paddle steamer wreck can still be seen just off
the shore.
Photo: St Leonards and Indented Head offer good fishing
in the shallow waters of Port Phillip Bay
Before European settlement the
Bengalat Balung clan of the Wathaurong people
inhabited the area around St Leonards.
The town of St Leonards took its name from a pastoral station
that was in the area, which in turn, took its name from the
town St Leonards in Sussex England. The area first got its
start in 1855 when a Melbourne merchant, George Cole,
Purchased a large area of land and set up a wharf. He then
proceeded to build some houses and set up a firewood trade,
which expanded the population rapidly.
Other industries follower Georges lead and by the 1860s there
was a brick works, fishing and leather tannery operation.
By the 1870s the firewood industry closed down and the
introduction of the motor car in the 20th century saw the pier
being used by local fisherman only. Today St Leonards boasts a
large hotel and small shopping strip it is a great place for
camping, fishing and boating.
ST LEONARDS
