Portland, Victoria

The town of Portland ({{coor dm|38|20|S|141|36|E|region:AU-VIC_type:city(9700)}}) is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Glenelg Shire.

Related Topics:
Victoria - Australia - Glenelg Shire

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The town is located on Portland Bay, which 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.

Related Topics:
1800 - James Grant - Duke of Portland - Bass Strait

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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. 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.

Related Topics:
1834 - Western Australia - 1829 - Van Diemen's Land - Western District - Thomas Mitchell - 1836

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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. Today Portland is a pretty and prosperous tourist centre with 9,700 people.

Related Topics:
Geelong - Warrnambool - Aluminium smelter

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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.

Related Topics:
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road

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Portland has a regional airport YPOD (PTJ).

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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.

Related Topics:
Victorian Legislative Assembly - Victorian Legislative Council - Federal - Division of Wannon

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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.

Related Topics:
Supertanker - Hastings - Western Port - Port Phillip

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