Mornington Peninsula

An hour south of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is hemmed in on either side by the Port Phillip and Western Port Bays. Now a mixture of residential and seaside holiday towns, for over 40,000 years the Peninsula formed part of the territory of the Bunurong people. It subsequently became the site of Victoria’s first settlement, the Sullivan’s Bay penal colony, formed in 1803 – 30 years prior to the establishment of Melbourne. During the latter part of the nineteenth century and World Wars I and II the Peninsula was also a key defence post. Point Nepean’s fortifications and the heritage listed Quarantine Station, built in 1852, speak to this history. The landscape varies from sandy beaches and holiday towns on the Port Phillip side, to mudflats and mangroves on the Western Port side, from treacherous cliffs and rips at Point Nepean, to the vineyards and olive groves of Red Hill and Main Ridge. This unique and varied geography and history make the Mornington Peninsula an endless subject of inspiration for an artist.

Boat at Mornington Pier and Jetty This boat is always moored at Mornington pier and I have walked past it many a time with my pram and dog.	Mornington Pier and Crested Terns I spotted this flock of crested terns relaxing on Mornington pier on an early morning winter walk with our dog. One lone seagull seeks to join in.	Mothers Beach through the Pines, Mornington A view of Mothers Beach, Morninton, througn the Pines, as I walked the pram up the steep ramp on a summer’s evening. This beach is appropriately named, as the sheltered shallows are perfect for a mum introducing her children to the joys of the beach.	Kirks on the Esplanade, Mornington Founded in the 1870s, Kirks on the Esplanade (then Kirkpatrick’s Hotel) originally had a Victorian era facade very similar to that of The Royal Hotel nextdoor. In the 1930s the current art deco facade was erected. Today locals enjoy eating fresh seafood, steak, pizza or risotto at this popular restaurant/bistro while watching boats cross Port Phillip Bay.
Passing by the Royal Hotel Built in 1855, the Royal Hotel opened in 1857 as 'The Schnapper Point Hotel'. The name reflected the township, then known as Schnapper Point, but renamed 'Mornington' in 1861 after British Foreign Secretary, 2nd Earl of Mornington. In 1876, the hotel received its current name after a visit from Prince Alfred, The Duke of Edinburgh. Until 1889 a Cobb & Co coach service ran from the Albion Hotel on Bourke Street, Melbourne, to The Royal. Pub patrons would travel for 5 hours in a six-horse coach dr	The Bay Hotel, Mornington Where else would you find Italian Renaissance Revival with a sprinkle of Irish pub charm? Only in Mornington! Originally built in 1889, this lively local pub used to be a bank. Previous owners included, The Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd, the National Bank of Australia and the National Australia Bank. In 1986 the building ceased to be a bank and became a restaurant. Now it's a favourite local watering hole.	Farrells Bookshop, Mornington At a time when many are missing their old local bookshop, Farrells Mornington remains proudly independent and treasured across the Peninsula. Part of Mornington for over 40 years, the staff of this bricks and mortar bookshop provides locals with passionate book recommendations and an inclusive and friendly reading community. Locals who enjoyed visiting this store when they were kids now take their children here, including my husband who now takes our 6 month old here.	Seagulls and Swans, Anthony's Nose, Dromana I painted this from a photograph I took whilst eating my lunch in Dromana. Where else in the world would you find black swans gliding past seagulls at the beach? Pure magic!
The Counting House, Mornington From bank to bar! Now a popular bar and grill, The Counting House building was first constructed in 1912 as a State Savings Bank. Constructed at a cost of £939, this bank was the financer of the Peninsula’s farmers. Since then it has served as an accountancy firm, police station and teahouse. Owners, Kevin Ko, Arbel el Sharafy and Jana Lipold, took great care to restore this building to its former glory. “It has such a wonderful history with the old vault we use for storage" says Jana.	Beach Boxes and Pier in Winter Sun, Dromana The colourful beach boxes stand crisp against the scrub of the Dromana foreshore and the long pier is just visible in the distance. Brown seaweed mottles the shore, broken by a sea water eddy reflecting a clear blue sky.	Secret Garden Seagull A walker and seagull cross paths in the early morning along Main Street, Mornington. Two pigeons huddle together for warmth in the crisp July air.	Dusk at Fisherman's Beach, Mornington The last rays of the sun capture waves breaking against the seawall at Fisherman's Beach, Mornington. The city of Melbourne is just visible in the distance on this chilly June day.

Mornington Peninsula

Boat at Mornington Pier and Jetty

This boat is always moored at Mornington pier and I have walked past it many a time with my pram and dog.

Mornington Pier and Crested Terns

I spotted this flock of crested terns relaxing on Mornington pier on an early morning winter walk with our dog. One lone seagull seeks to join in.

Mothers Beach through the Pines, Mornington

A view of Mothers Beach, Morninton, througn the Pines, as I walked the pram up the steep ramp on a summer’s evening. This beach is appropriately named, as the sheltered shallows are perfect for a mum introducing her children to the joys of the beach.

Kirks on the Esplanade, Mornington

Passing by the Royal Hotel

The Bay Hotel, Mornington

Farrells Bookshop, Mornington

Seagulls and Swans, Anthony's Nose, Dromana

I painted this from a photograph I took whilst eating my lunch in Dromana. Where else in the world would you find black swans gliding past seagulls at the beach? Pure magic!

The Counting House, Mornington

Beach Boxes and Pier in Winter Sun, Dromana

The colourful beach boxes stand crisp against the scrub of the Dromana foreshore and the long pier is just visible in the distance. Brown seaweed mottles the shore, broken by a sea water eddy reflecting a clear blue sky.

Secret Garden Seagull

A walker and seagull cross paths in the early morning along Main Street, Mornington. Two pigeons huddle together for warmth in the crisp July air.

Dusk at Fisherman's Beach, Mornington

The last rays of the sun capture waves breaking against the seawall at Fisherman's Beach, Mornington. The city of Melbourne is just visible in the distance on this chilly June day.