| Pre-European Settlement |
Area inhabited by Bengalat balug (Clan) of the Wathaurong
Tribe |
| 1802 |
First European explorers.
January : Lieutenant John Murray
April : Captain Matthew Flinders |
| 1803 - 1835 |
William Buckley the first European
living in the area |
| 1835 + |
Area investigated and surveyed by Wedge and Gellibrand |
| 1836 + |
Area occupied by squatters |
| 1836 |
Lt. Tuckey named area "Whale Head", later changed
to "Shortlands Bluff" after Lieutenant Shorland who was assisting in surveying
Port Phillip Bay |
| 1839 |
Captain George Tobin obtained first sea pilot's licence |
| 1842 |
Paddle steamers were making the run down the bay to
Queenscliff |
| 1842 - 43 |
First lighthouse constructed from local stone at Shortlands
Bluff - later replaced by "Black Lighthouse". The first light shone in April
1843. |
| 1853 |
 | Queenscliff renamed in honour of Queen Victoria by Governor La Trobe |
| Township of Queenscliff surveyed and first land sales conducted |
|
| 1860 |
Voluntary Artillery Corps formed to man 3 cannons which
overlooked Port Phillip Bay |
| 1860's |
Queenscliff predominantly a government and fishing town |
| 1861 - 62 |
Black Lighthouse built |
| 1863 |
| First use of Black Lighthouse |
| Low, white lighthouse built |
|
| 1879 |
| Railway from Geelong to Queenscliff constructed at a cost of £58,977 |
| Palace Hotel in Gellibrand Street built - later renamed Esplanade Hotel |
|
| 1878-1884 |
Construction of a number of Forts guarding the entrance to
Port Phillip Bay |
| 1881 - 83 |
Baillieu Hotel built - later renamed the Ozone Hotel |
| 1882 |
| Reorganisation of the military garrison - voluntary soldiers were replaced by a
permanent army staff |
| Part of Swan Island was converted into a station for the Military |
|
| 1883 |
| Lathamstowe on the corner of Stoke Street was built by Mr. Latham, a wealthy brewer. |
| Vue Grande hotel built over the site of the wooden Australasia Hotel |
|
| 1880's |
Tourist boom |
| 1886 |
Paddle Steamer "Ozone" commenced service between
Melbourne and Queenscliff |
| 1887 |
Queenscliff Hotel in Gellibrand Street built |
| 1888 |
Queenscliff Library opened |
| 1890 |
Paddle Steamer "Hygeia" was built to supplement the
bay service |
| 1918 |
Obelisk built to the left of the low light to delineate the
eastern limit of the channel |
| 1920's |
Post World War I tourist boom |
| 1924 |
"Hume Tower" was constructed to mark the western
limit of the channel |
| 1947 |
Coastal Artillery outmoded. Australian Staff College
takes over Fort for advanced officer training |
