Sorrento, Victoria

Sorrento is a township of Victoria, Australia, located on the shores of Port Phillip Bay on the Mornington Peninsula, about 1 and a half hours south of Melbourne. It is a largely upper-class, seaside resort area but is also a quiet seaside township in the off peak months of the year with two schools, and one main shopping strip on Ocean Beach Road with retail, groceries and services.

The town has a number of grand historic homes and hotels which date back to the 1860s, almost all of which have been constructed in local limestone. These are mostly found atop the hill along the main street between the bay and surf beaches.

A vehicle Searoad ferry operates across Port Phillip Bay between Sorrento and Queenscliff.

1 History
2 Places
3 Gallery
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

Sorrento is the site of Victoria's first European settlement in 1803 at Sullivan Bay, 30 years before the founding of Melbourne.

The settlement was short lived due to the lack of fresh water resources. It was the site of the first magistrate's court, first public hospital, first postal service and the first government printing office. The first wedding, christening and funeral service were held in Sullivan Bay. It was also the home of a camp of soldiers and convicts.

The first settlement site overlooking Sullivan Bay includes the graves of the first settlers.

[edit] Places

In Sorrento Park established from 1870 onwards there are indigenous species, oaks and conifers. Notably there is also an Aleppo pine grown from the seed of the Lone Pine of Gallipoli.^[3]

[edit] Gallery

Continental Hotel

Sorrento Hotel

[edit] References

^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Sorrento (State Suburb). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
^ Sorrento, 24 September 2007
^ http://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/documents/other/Complete%20Amendment%20C23.pdf

[edit] External links

Sorrento, Victoria is at coordinates 38°20′20″S 144°44′27″E / -38.338825, 144.740947 (Sorrento, Victoria)Coordinates: 38°20′20″S 144°44′27″E / -38.338825, 144.740947 (Sorrento, Victoria)

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