Port Phillip

:There is also Local Government Area called the City of Port Phillip.

Related Topics:
Local Government Area - City of Port Phillip

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Port Phillip (commonly but incorrectly referred to as Port Phillip Bay, and usually known locally just as "the Bay") is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia. Melbourne, the state's capital city, is located at its northern end, near the mouth of the Yarra River. Melbourne's suburbs extend around much of the northern and eastern shoreline, and the city of Geelong is located on Corio Bay, a subsidiary bay in the southwest.

Related Topics:
Bay - Victoria - Australia - Melbourne - State - Capital city - Yarra River - Melbourne's suburbs - Geelong - Corio Bay

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Port Phillip contains many bays and beaches including Beaumaris Bay, Corio Bay, St Kilda Beach, Brighton Beach, and others. The narrow entrance to the bay, called the Rip, between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean features strong tidal streams made turbulent by the uneven contours of the seabed. The best time for small craft to enter the Rip is at slack water. Large ships require expert local guidance to enter and exit, provided by the Port Phillip Pilot Service. There is currently a proposal to deepen the entrance, to allow newer, larger container ships to access Melbourne's docks.

Related Topics:
Beaumaris Bay - Corio Bay - St Kilda - Brighton - Point Lonsdale - Point Nepean - Slack water - Port Phillip Pilot Service - Container ship

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The eastern side of the bay is characterised by sandy beaches extending from St Kilda, Sandringham, Beaumaris, Seaford, Frankston, Safety Beach/Dromana and Rye to Portsea. Longshore drift carries sand from south to north during winter and from north to south during summer. Cliff erosion control has often resulted in sand starvation, necessitating offshore dredging to replenish the beach.

Related Topics:
St Kilda - Sandringham - Beaumaris - Seaford - Frankston - Safety Beach - Dromana - Rye - Portsea - Longshore drift - Sand - Winter - Summer - Erosion - Sand starvation - Dredging

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On the western side of the bay there is a greater variety of beach types, seen at Queenscliff, St Leonards, Indented Head, Portarlington, and Eastern Beach.

Related Topics:
Queenscliff - St Leonards - Indented Head - Portarlington - Eastern Beach

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Numerous sandbanks and shoals occur in the southern section of the bay, so that the shipping channels from the Rip to the deeper northern section must be continually dredged. The Mud Islands, off Sorrento, are an important breeding habitat for Silver Gull, Australian Pelican and Pacific Gull. Australian Gannets also breed on navigation beacons in this area, and it also hosts breeding colonies of Australian Fur Seal. Saltmarsh in the northwestern sections of the bay is listed as significant wetlands with the Ramsar Convention and the critically-endangered Orange-bellied Parrot is found at three wintering sites around Port Phillip and the Bellarine Peninsula.

Related Topics:
Sandbank - Shoal - Mud Islands - Sorrento - Silver Gull - Australian Pelican - Pacific Gull - Australian Gannet - Navigation beacon - Breeding colonies - Australian Fur Seal - Saltmarsh - Ramsar Convention - Orange-bellied Parrot - Bellarine Peninsula

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Two ferries travel across the mouth of the bay each hour, between Queenscliff and Sorrento. The service is known as the Searoad ferry. Port Phillip is home to 36 Yacht clubs.

Related Topics:
Queenscliff - Sorrento - Searoad ferry - Yacht club

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