Breakwater, Victoria

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Breakwater
Geelong, Victoria

Train crossing Breakwater bridge, 1937

Population:

1,120 (2001 census)

Established:

1837

Postcode:

3219

Area:

3.1 km²

LGA:

City of Greater Geelong

State District:

Geelong

Federal Division:

Corio

Suburbs around Breakwater
South Geelong	East Geelong	Newcomb
Belmont	Breakwater	Whittington
Grovedale		St Albans Park

Breakwater is a residential and industrial suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, located on the Barwon River, 4 km south-south-east of the Geelong central business district. Breakwater is also home to the Geelong Racing Club and the Geelong Showgrounds.

[edit] History

The name Breakwater originated from a rock ford constructed across the Barwon River by Geelong's first Police magistrate, Captain Foster Fyans, in 1837. The ford stopped the inflow of salt water to the fresh water river, and supplying the town with fresh river water.

Land between the industrial area and the river is prone to flooding. From 1913 - 1916 the Geelong Water and Sewerage Trust built a 750-metre long sewer aqueduct across the Barwon River to an ocean discharge point at Black Rock. It was retired after 80 years of service due to poor structural condition which was beyond economic repair.