Portsea, Victoria

Portsea Melbourne, Victoria
220px Portsea Pier
Portsea
Coordinates
Population	446 (2011)
• Density	112/km2 (290/sq mi)
Established	1850s
Postcode(s)	3944
Area	4 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Location	95 km (59 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	Shire of Mornington Peninsula
State electorate(s)	Nepean
Federal Division(s)	Flinders
Suburbs around Portsea: Point Nepean Port Phillip Portsea Bass Strait Sorrento

Portsea is a resort town located across Port Phillip from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its local government area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. Portsea is a popular holiday spot, located near the end of the Mornington Peninsula between the calm waters of Port Phillip and the wild surf of Bass Strait.

In 2005, Australian Tax Office data showed the 3944 postcode to be the nation's most affluent; outperforming other upper class Victorian suburbs, including Toorak and Hawthorn, both known for upper middle class and upper class dwellings ranging from $5 million to $25 million, with an average taxable income almost $10,000 higher than Sydney's Darling Point or Point Piper.

History

Portsea Post Office opened on 10 February 1877 and closed in 1987.

OCS Portsea, an army establishment, was located just outside the town. The historic reserve became famous when Prime Minister of Australia Harold Holt disappeared while swimming inside the facility at Cheviot Beach on 17 December 1967 and was officially presumed dead two days later, although a formal inquest into his death did not take place until 2005.

Portsea is named after Portsea Island which is an island incorporated by Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom. Portsmouth is where the first settlers to Australia set sail from.

Today

Portsea is considered by many to be the hub of Melbourne's recreational scuba diving activities. No less than four scuba related shops operate from in its otherwise modest main street. Dive boats travel to sites both inside Port Phillip and outside Port Phillip Heads, also known as The Rip.

The Portsea Pier is the home to the spectacular weedy sea dragon, as well as many other fish species, including numerous pufferfish. Boating traffic is frequent, and divers should be careful to avoid main boating routes. Portsea Back Beach is a big attraction in Portsea, due to its great surfing conditions and long stretch of sand. Portsea Surf Life Saving Club patrols the popular surf beach, as patrols are always needed during the summer period given the large waves and strong tides that are often present.

Corsair Rock, just at the entrance to Port Philip Bay is a well known surf spot to locals and professional surfers. It is not advised to surf there unless you are an experienced surfer and have someone in a boat for safety. It is considered a very dangerous location. The rip can run out as fast as 8-10 knots.

Golfers play at the revered Portsea Golf Club on Relph Avenue.

According to the 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Portsea had 446 residents. Prominent residents include trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, Kate Baillieu and Rupert Murdoch's grandson businessman David Calvert Jones, other well known residents are Eddie McGuire and Ron Walker.

Several properties in Portsea have broken the Victorian price record. This occurred as recently as last year.

The Australian Crawl song "Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama" was written about Portsea.

Education

• Officer Cadet School, Portsea

See also

• Portsea Island, Portsmouth, England of which the town is named.
• Portsea, a district of Portsmouth, England.
• Point Nepean