Torquay History

Naming Bass Strait
George Bass sailed from Sydney, around Cape Howe, the farthest point of south-east Australia sailing westwards along the coast to Western Port. The following year he circumnavigated Van Diemen’s Land..Read More
Hume & Hovell
Explorers Hume and Hovell, arrived at Duck Ponds (Lara) near Jillong (Geelong) concluding it was a good place for settlement. Noticing the fine harbour and the surrounding country, they concluded..Read More
John Batman Arrives
John Batman arrives off Indented Head and establishes a holding station. On 6 June Batman recorded in his journal that he had signed a treaty with the local Aboriginal people,..Read More
Establishing Pastoral Runs
Wadawurrung territory started to be settled on by the newly arrived squatters. The Aboriginal community resisted the European invasion by driving off or stealing sheep, which then resulted in conflict..Read More
Geelong Gazetted
Geelong was surveyed and Gazetted on 10 October. As Geelong grows with European settlers the Aboriginals are forced to live on the fringe of town.
Geelong Land Sales
The first sale of Geelong land was held, in Sydney, then the capital of the colony of New South Wales, of which this district was a part. It took place..Read More
Elias Harding
Elias Harding had arrived at Port Phillip Bay on 2nd October 1838, with his young family. The Port Phillip area, which was then part of N.S.W., was being rapidly developed,..Read More
Other Settlers Follow
Other settlers followed Elias Harding. 1841 – Henry Tait took up the lease for Spring Creek Station. His wife takes over in 1846 when Henry becomes ill. 1843 – John..Read More