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The Bellarine Historical Society Inc. on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, Australia ABN : 32 278 055 160 |
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The History of Indented Head The whole Bellarine Peninsula was originally called Indented Head in the beginning and it wasn't until later that it was to take the various names of the early settlers. Early birth, death and marriage registrations showed Indented Head as the place of registration, however the actual place of the event could be any of the towns on the peninsula. John Batman landed at Indented Head and made that his base camp while he returned to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) for more supplies and his family. An historic marker stands where he landed.
He possibly landed here but probably did not stay, for there is no fresh water about and the lookout point here, from which to watch Port Phillip Heads for ships coming from Tasmania, is not a very good one. A Map of Batman's Camp, where William Buckley met white men for the first time in 32 years, shows the camp at St. Leonards some three to four kilometres further on.
There is a fresh water creek at St. Leonards and no fresh water at Indented Head. Besides, St. Leonards has an excellent bluff-lookout from where Batman's men could see the Heads and ships coming from Van Diemen's Land. Indented Head is a small community most of the year until the Summer, when it explodes with campers right along the foreshore swelling the population by several thousands. Near the shore, the wreck of a paddle steamer can be seen - it was being towed to form a breakwater and was wrecked just off the beach. [From the files of the Bellarine Historical Society]
Members of the Bellarine Historical Society and residents of the towns of the Bellarine Peninsula have commenced a major project to document the history of their local areas on the Internet. These histories will includes towns, buildings, families, schools, environment - in fact any subject which adds to the history of the Bellarine Peninsula. These are not all encompassing histories and certainly will not replace the need for researchers to visit or contact the Bellarine Historical Society and other local repositories for more detailed information. The purpose of these histories is to increase the awareness of the depth of history on the Peninsula and to encourage further research into local archives.
We'd love your input to the history of Indented Head. This is how you can help :
Please don't be bashful - your contribution can be anonymous or we'll happily put your name to it. If you don't have email access, please mail information or questions to :
Record Sources for Indented Head
Brownhill, Geo. H. Illustrated Guide to Geelong And District, Facsimile edn., Deakin University Press, Geelong, 1990. Campbell, A. J. Tourist Guide to Geelong and Southern Watering Places, Henry Thacker, Geelong, 1893. McLeod, Eunice. Early History of Portarlington and East Bellarine, Indented Head and St. Leonards, Eunice McLeod, Portarlington, 1962. McLeod, Eunice. Portarlington, Indented Head, St. Leonards : History & Reminiscences, Marine History, Portarlington, n.d. (reprint with changes to above publication). Wynd, Ian. Balla-wein : A history of the Shire of Bellarine, Shire of Bellarine, Drysdale, 1988. Wynd, Ian. Geelong The Pivot : A Short History of Geelong and District, Cypress Books, Mont Albert North, 1971.
Created by : Susie Zada |
