St Leonards, Victoria

St Leonards is a coastal township near Geelong, Victoria, Australia, at the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula and the northern end of Swan Bay. Situated 33 kilometres (21 mi) east of Geelong, St Leonards was a filming location for the Australian television series SeaChange.

St Leonards
Victoria
Main street of St Leonards
St Leonards
Coordinates38°10′S 144°43′E
Population2,480 (2016 census)[1]
Established1855
Postcode(s)3223
Location
LGA(s)City of Greater Geelong
State electorate(s)Bellarine
Federal Division(s)Corangamite
Localities around St Leonards:
Drysdale Portarlington Indented Head
Drysdale St Leonards Port Phillip
Mannerim Swan Bay Port Phillip

The town is surrounded by salt marsh wildlife reserves which provide habitat for hundreds of birds, including the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot of which there are less than 200 in the wild. Salt marshes are one of the most biologically productive habitats on the planet, rivalling tropical rainforests. The official motto for St Leonards is "Where everyday is Sunday". St. Leonards has also just been nominated to have the cleanest beaches in Victoria.[2]

History

The development of St Leonards began as a source of firewood for Melbourne by George Ward Cole in 1855. To further this endeavour required the building of a pier and the town consisted of a hotel, store and six houses in 1858. The first Hotel in St Leonards was established in 1858. The Post Office opened on 19 March 1860.[3] St Leonards State School No. 866 opened in October 1874.

Features

St Leonards is home to good sailing waters, an Esplanade memorial recording the landfalls of Matthew Flinders in 1802 and John Batman in 1835, Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve, and bay and pier fishing.[4]

In the 2016 census, St Leonards recorded a population of 2,480 people. This was a significant increase since the 2011 census, when St Leonards had a population of 2,001. And then 1,600 in 2006 census. In the Christmas Holidays St Leonards reaches a population of 4,000 people or more

It also maintains consistent calm waters as the town's location on the Bellarine Peninsula helps protect it from the bay's typical year round south west winds. Thus whilst large waves may be pounding on the east side of Port Phillip Bay due to strong south west winds, the water could be rather calm at St Leonards.[5]

Parks

Sport

Golfers play at the course of the St Leonards Golf Club on Ibbotson Street (the golf club moved to new premises at Ibbotson Street in September 2011).[6]

Other clubs include the St Leonards Tennis Club, St Leonards Bowling Club, St Leonards Yacht Club, St Leonards Cricket Club (est 1947, competing in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association), the Bellarine Sharks AFC (2008 GRFA Division 3 League Champions) and formerly from 1985-1996 the St. Leonards Football club nicknamed 'the Saints'

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "St Leonards (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  2. {{cite web Current Mayor of St. Leonards, The Honourable Ryan Ford. |url = http://stleonardscommunityfestival.com.au/ |author = St Leonards Community Festival |title = Why we do this is… |date = 17 October 2009 |access-date = 2010-04-15 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091024080601/http://stleonardscommunityfestival.com.au/ |archive-date = 24 October 2009 |df = }}
  3. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  4. Bellarine Historical Society (17 July 2004). "The History of St Leonards". Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  5. Swan Bay Environmental Association Inc. (2006). "About Swan Bay". Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  6. St Leonards Golf Club. "St Leonards Golf Club". Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  • St Leonards History Page Bellarine Historical Society
  • Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve Parks Victoria
  • Swan Bay - Port Phillip Heads National Park (Marine)
  • Swan Bay (Birds)
  • Ian WYND, Balla-Wien: A History of the Shire of Bellarine, Shire of Bellarine (1988).
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