Portland, Victoria
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The city of Portland () is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Glenelg Shire. It is located on Portland Bay.
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[edit] History
The town was named in 1800 by the British navigator James Grant, who sailed in the Lady Nelson along the Victorian coast. "I also distinguished the Bay by the name of Portland Bay, in honour of His Grace the Duke of Portland," wrote Grant. The bay, the only deep sea port between Adelaide and Melbourne, offers a sheltered anchorage against the often wild weather of Bass Strait.
In 1834 Edward Henty and his family, who had migrated from England to Western Australia in 1829, then moved to Van Diemen's Land, ferried some of their stock across the Strait in search of the fine grazing land of the Western District.
After a voyage of 34 days the Thistle arrived at Portland Bay on 19 November 1834. Edward Henty was only 24 years old and early in December, using a plough he had made himself, he turned the first sod in Victoria. The next voyage of the Thistle brought his brother Francis with additional stock and supplies, and in a short time houses were erected and fences put up.
They established a landing place at Portland Bay which eventually became the town of Portland. There they were discovered by the explorer Thomas Mitchell in 1836. The settlement was illegal since Victoria had not yet been opened for settlement. The Henty's also farmed in areas known as "Australia Felix", around Casterton.
By 1838, land auctions had been authorised from Sydney and in Charles Tyers was the first to survey the Portland township in 1839.
[edit] Gunditjmara
The Gunditjmara are the traditional inhabitants of the south west, taking in what is now Portland. They were present when the early commercial sealers like William Dutton arrived and when the Henty family created what would become Victoria’s first permanent European settlement. It has been argued whether Dutton was first, but he was considered to be somewhat itinerant by the establishment of the era and not the discoverer of this deepwater bay and fertile hinterland. Henty sowed the first Victorian wheat crop on cliff top land, known today as ‘The Ploughed Field’. Footnote: Victoria was not proclaimed a colony until 1851.
While the Hentys landed ashore in Portland on November 19th 1834. Melbourne was founded in 1835 by John Batman. From settlement the region around Melbourne was known as the Port Phillip District, and this gained some administrative status prior to separation from New South Wales and declaration as the Colony of Victoria in 1851.
Gunditjmara still reside in and around the district; they are renowned in scientific circles for their early aquaculture development at nearby Lake Condah. Physical remains such as the weirs and fish traps are to be found in Lake Condah, which is to the south of Hamilton.
[edit] Trade
Through the 19th century Portland was an important port for the woolgrowing industry of the Western District, but eventually it lost its primacy to the better facilities at Geelong. Even in western Victoria, Portland fell behind Warrnambool as the main commercial centre. In the 20th century Portland's role as a port revived, and its economy was also boosted by the tourism industry and an aluminium smelter.
The port of Portland was sold in 1996 by the state government to the Scott Corporation (owned by Allan Scott), the first privatisation of Port facilities in Australia.
Many coastal towns have majestic Norfolk Pine trees planted and Portland is proudly among them.
[edit] Proclaimed a city
Portland was proclaimed a city on Monday October, 28th, 1985, in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Wales.
[edit] Today
Today, Portland is a pretty and prosperous tourist centre of around 12,000 people. The population has recently increased due to more jobs becoming available in the area.
Portland is 362 km west of Melbourne and can be reached either by following the Great Ocean Road (B100) or the Princes Highway (A1) if you prefer a shorter and faster route.
Portland has a regional airport YPOD (PTJ).
Portland is in the Victorian Legislative Assembly South-West Coast electoral district, the Western Province of the Victorian Legislative Council and the federal Division of Wannon. Its postcode is 3305.
As the new Supertanker has emerged, Portland, along with Hastings in Western Port Bay have become proposed alternatives to the controversial plans for deepening of Melbourne's shallower Port Phillip. The plans are aimed at maintaining Victoria's shipping status (since Melbourne has become Australia' busiest port, the Victorian economy relies heavily on the import and export of goods). Due to environmental reasons, the plan to deepen Port Phillip has been heavily criticised, whereas Portland offers some of the necessary infrastructure with minimum environmental impact.
[edit] Caring for the environment
Geothermal and alternative energies: Portland uses hot water (58 degrees C) extracted from a bore (1400m deep) at a rate of 65L/s to heat more than 19,000 square metres of buildings for more than 15 years. Portland's environmental credentials are enhanced by the creation of the new wind-turbine blade manufacturing facility owned by Vestas, employing 50 people. The blades are used in wind-farm projects around Australia.
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[edit] Railway and transport
Passenger rail and freight cartage: Portland was served by a broad gauge branch railway, which has since been converted to standard gauge. Passenger movements are by coach to Warrnambool where passengers transfer to rail. Grain is the most common commodity delivered by rail from the Wimmera.
Minister for Sport & Recreation, the Hon. Justin Madden, opened a $15m overpass in Cliff Street constructed for VicRoads in October 2006.
The government committed to the project in May 2003. The overpass allows road transports and trains continuous access to the port; moving commodities like grain, fertiliser, wind-farm blades, aluminium ingots and woodchips. Port activity is projected to increase significantly and the overpass, which had been discussed since 1991, was finally installed. The unnamed overpass will improve accessibility to the Port of Portland and road safety in the area. The project was completed three months ahead of schedule because of the drought and less than the expected delays due to rain.
[edit] Tourism
Portland Cable Trams was established as a community organisation in June 1996, with the view to laying light rail to carry refurbished cable trams, as both an outlet for rail and heritage enthusiasts and a tourist venture. The tram is now on track and has carried over 30,000 passengers along the scenic route from Henty Park to the RSL Memorial Lookout, at the old North Portland Water Tower. One route takes in the natural wetlands (tidal) of Fawthrop Lagoon Park, another, the foreshore, cliff tops and residential areas. The Portland Cable Tram group is planning additional tram carriages and engines, for greater capacity. Larger tourist coaches have increased demand. The additional rolling stock will provide more reliability and maintenance support options. The trams run every day except Christmas Day. Volunteer drivers and conductors provide a commentary about Portland's significant past and present day buildings, Harbour and sights.
[edit] Aviation
The city is served by two commercial airlines, which is unusual for a district population of only around 20,000 people.
Regional Express Airlines based in Wagga Wagga took over the route pioneered by Don Kendell, Kendell Airlines, which ceased operations, partly because of airline industry rationalisation, after the collapse of Ansett Airlines in September 2001. REX Airlines connects passengers to Melbourne Airport (MEL) at Tullamarine International Airport and on return flights from Melbourne to Mount Gambier.
Sharp Airlines, a small charter company formed in Hamilton (1990), (ironically, where Reginald Ansett and later Brian Grey Compass Airlines started their respective businesses) started flying regularly out of Portland to Essendon Airport, and has flights from Hamilton and Warrnambool to Melbourne. Sharp Airlines started in Portland by flying staff and employees from Portland Aluminium to Avalon Airport, so they could link to the Point Henry Smelter near Geelong. With significant demand and the support of the community, non-charter, passenger flights were also added. Sharp has established a maintenance hub at Portland Airport, so support staff could service the growing commuter and tourist airline.
[edit] Arts & culture
Portland has a vibrant cultural diversity, with many potters, painters, musicians, quilters, lead lighters, wood-turners, photographers, cinematographers, multi-media artists, print-makers, jewellers, sculptors, actors and writers.
Many of these talents come together under the banners of CEMA, or the associated - The Arts Company., C.E.M.A. Inc, (Council for Encouragement of Music and the Arts) CEMA has its own space with gallery and theatre (inc stage and film projection facilities) on the corners of Glenelg and Bentinck Streets. Featuring local and visiting performances, the centre has a thriving membership.
The Arts Company is located in the heritage precinct of Portland, in refurbished old buildings in Julia Street, the Arts communitys' workshops and studios, combined with retail shop frontage, highlighting and selling the artists' works. Julia Street's historic facades blend beautifully with the ocean backdrop. The Arts Company has accommodation and studios for the artists in residence programs - always bringing new ideas, skills and importantly, creating new works.
Community Radio station 3RPC-FM 99.3, is located opposite The Arts Company and broadcasts to the majority of the Shire of Glenelg. This too lends itself to the promotion of the city's various performances, exhibitions and cultural events. Volunteer presenters, writer and produce many hours every week of on-air entertainment covering arts, culture, sport, community news and special interest programs.
Portland tourist radio station is WAVE-FM, broadcasting easy listening music, news and information about local attractions.
In November during the weekend proceeding the Melbourne Cup, the city comes alive with the Portland Bay Festival - featuring the 'Break Fest', a youth rock concert, a major annual Rotary Art Show (Civic Hall) and the celebrated 3 Bays Marathon, Relay & Walk.
[edit] Portland Aluminium
Alcoa is Victoria's largest exporter. The Portland aluminium smelter is located in Portland in South West Victoria. The smelter was commissioned in 1987 and is managed by Alcoa for Portland Aluminium (a joint venture project between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni).
Portland is Australia's third largest aluminium smelter, with a capacity of around 352,000 tonnes of aluminium per annum. The majority of Portland's production is supplied to the export market.
The Portland Aluminium smelter, in conjunction with Alcoa's Point Henry smelter, produce about 30% of Australia's total aluminium.
Portland Aluminium partners:
Alcoa (55%) CITIC (22.5%) Marubeni (22.5%) For more information visit http://www.alcoa.com.au
[edit] Vestas Portland
Facility: $9 million; capacity, 225 blades/75 blade sets per annum. Vestas began manufacturing wind turbines in 1979. Their core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale, marketing and maintenance of wind power systems. In addition to the new blade manufacturing facility in Portland and their assembly plant in Tasmania, Vestas has manufacturing plants in Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, Scotland, England, Spain, Sweden and Norway. In 2004 the company delivered 188 MW to the Australian market. Worldwide there are in excess of 27,000 Vestas wind turbines installed,located in over 50 countries. The first blades from the Portland plant were produced in July 2005 and the plant officially commissioned in August.
[edit] Portland Wind Project (PWEP)
The Portland Wind Energy Project, PWEP [[1]] involves the development of four wind farms at Cape Bridgewater, Cape Nelson, Cape Sir William Grant and Yambuk in southwest Victoria. As one of the biggest wind farm developments in the Southern Hemisphere, the 195MW project will deliver major environmental, economic and social benefits including a new manufacturing industry in Portland.
The four Portland sites are considered ideal wind farm locations, with consistently strong winds, access for construction vehicles and machinery, a nearby connection to the National Electricity Grid, compatible farming activities and a large land area.
The 195MW project will produce enough clean electricity to power about 125,000 homes each year. That’s equal to more than 7 per cent of Victoria’s residential electricity demand or powering a city the size of Geelong. The project is being developed by Pacific Hydro.
Source: http://www.pacifichydro.com.au/OurEnergy/WindEnergy/PortlandWindProject/tabid/134/Default.aspx
Maritime Discovery Centre link: [[2]]
[edit] External links
- Glenelg Shire Council
- Council for Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA).
- Port of Portland
- Photos of Portland
- Great Ocean Road holiday photographs & video including Portland
- Great South West Walk Surrounding Portland
- PortlandNow - a GSC - GCTI project
- Portland Observer & Guardian
- Portland Aluminium
- Historical Photographs Vern McCallum Collection
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Cities of Victoria |
|---|---|
| Capital: | |
| Cities: |
Ararat | Ballarat | Benalla | Bendigo | Geelong | Latrobe City | Mildura | Portland | Shepparton | Swan Hill | Wangaratta | Warrnambool | Wodonga |
Attractions: Bay of Islands Coastal Park | Bells Beach | Otway National Park | Port Campbell National Park | The Twelve Apostles
Towns: Aireys Inlet | Anglesea | Apollo Bay | Lorne | Peterborough | Portland | Torquay
