Bellarine Historical Society

31/05/2026

Jetty, Boat Ramp, Pier, used for gaining access to waterways. Some of them are located at Clifton Springs, Portarlington, Point Richard's, St.Leonards around the Bellarine.

24/05/2026

Three Lighthouses on the Bellarine coastline, located at Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. The Black one at Queenscliff,located in QueenscliffFort(Shortland Bluff), built in 1862. The other lighthouse was painted white todistinguish it from the black one. Point Lonsdale lighthouse, located on the south end of town on a public reserve

19/05/2026

General Stores were social and commercial hubs during the 1850's to 1950's supplying groceries and hardware and some acted as Post and Telegaraph agents. Notable general stores across The Bellarine included- Craig's General store, Queenscliff: Menzies/Skinners General store, Ocean Grove: Long's Store, Leopold: Other locations where General Stores were located - Portarlington, Barwon Heads and Point Lonsdale, and St .Leonards. The photos show the style of building and layout inthe shops of goods for sale.

09/05/2026

Our 50th Anniversary celebrations continue with an Exhibition of Photos at the Drysdale Library (first floor) near Customer Service Desk. The photos focus on Trains, Schools and Hotels over past hundred years located around the Bellarine. The Exhibition is available for viewing until the end of May.

06/05/2026

Queenscliff, photos include Hotel, Church, Post Office, The Main Street and an aerial photo of the beach. A town with so many historic buildings dating back to 1800's.

04/05/2026

Just a reminder about the documentary about Howard and Mavis is on this Wednesday at 2pm, 6th May

29/04/2026

Aerial views of St. Leonard's, Victoria. Located on the Bellarine Peninsula , 33 kilometres east of Geelong. The population statistics show the increase from 108 in 1881 to 1206 in 1911 to 3542 in 2021. Shows the popularity of this seaside town, which increases to 10,000 in the holiday season. The photos show the dramatic increase, the photo on the left show very few houses to 1920 show the increase in houses. Such beautiful location will only continue to attract more people to live permanently as well as for holidays.

28/04/2026

A special story of a nurse who enlisted in World War One.

Eleanor Mary Judd was one of the two thousand brave Australian trained nurses who enlisted and embarked on active service overseas in WW2.

Sister Eleanor Mary Judd was born in Moana N.S.W. Her parents were Thomas William and Marion Judd. Her brother Neal was an officer in the Australian Flying Corps. Sister Judd undertook her three years training at the Port Fairy Hospital. Subsequently she worked in both public and private hospitals, including what she described as ‘my own hospital’ at Somerton Geelong.

She enlisted on April 3rd 1915 and left Australia on April 10th 1915 on HMAT Kyarra A*5. She was thirty four years old and had been living with her mother in Glenferrie Victoria.

Nurse Judd worked in both England and France, in the latter case being based at Rouen. In April 1917 she was promoted to Sister. She returned to Australia on January 8th 1919. By 1924 she had married a Mr Oliver and was living in Elqui Chile.

Lest We Forget. 🌹

24/04/2026

Uniforms worn by women serving in two world wars. Front cover of Womens' Weekly magazine dated January, 1945.

16/04/2026

Curlewis, The History of the Hermsley Estate, written by Ann Hodgkinson, available to purchase at BHS Museum, which is open every Sunday until the end of June. Opening hours, 10.30 til 12.30pm.