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Sorrento, VIC: 'Melbourne's Elder Sister'

Sorrento is a historic seaside town located in Victoria, on the Mornington Peninsula, with wonderful buildings from the late Victorian, Federation and Inter-War periods.

Facing Port Phillip in the north and the Bass Strait in the south, Sorrento, was Victoria's first official European settlement, established by Lieutenant-Colonel David Collins in 1803.

At the western end of Sorrento Front Beach is Policemans Point and the Sorrento Pier. 

The Bunurong Aboriginal People

The Bunurong are part of the Kulin language group. Their traditional lands are from the Werribee River in the northwest down to Wilson's Promontory in the southeast.

Moving about according to the seasons, Bunurong people hunted and camped across the lands of the Mornington Peninsula. Important food sources were waterfowl, tortoises, fish, bulbs and roots.
British Library digitised image from page 982 of "De Aardbol. Magazijn van hedendaagsche land- en volkenkunde ... Met platen en kaarten [Deel 4-9 by P. H. W.]" British Library. Aboriginal woman often carried a child sitting on her shoulders
"Tribes belonging to the Kulin nation lived on all the rivers rising in the Victorian Alps from the Yarra round northwards to the Ovens River." (1.)

The wetlands, bays and creeks of the area were used as camping areas, where the Bunurong people made temporary shelter's called mia-mia's from bark, branches, leaves and grass.
Aboriginal Mia-mia (temporary shelter) 
Kangaroo and possum skins were used to make cloaks for the colder months. Cloaks were also wrapped around the body when sleeping and used for wrapping babies. One possum cloak that dates from 1853 is made from 83 possum skins.

Stone tools such as diorite (greenstone) axes were used for a variety of tasks, including butchering food, digging for tubers, chopping wood and removing tree bark, and processing vegetal materials.

The Bunurong peoples' totems are Bunjil the Eaglehawk and Waang the Crow. 

 Bunjil was the maker of the earth, trees, and men, and his name exists in the language as the term for wisdom or knowledge. (Edward Stone Parke

"Bunjil taught the Kulin the arts of life, and one legend states that in that time the Kulin married without any regard for kinship. Two medicine-men (Wirrarap) went up to him in the Tharangalk-bek, and he said in reply to their request that the Kulin should divide themselves into two parts—"Bunjil on this side and Waang on that side, and Bunjil should marry Waang, and Waang marry Bunjil." (2.)

According to Kulin people, the creation spirit, Lohan, created their territory. Lohan saw a swan’s feather carried by the wind, as he was cooking eels at the Yarra River (Melbourne). He followed the feather in the direction of Westernport Bay, where the swans lived, and when they migrated further to the east, he again followed them until he arrived in the mountains of Wa mung (Wilson’s Promontory) where he made his home (Howitt, 1904).

The Kulin account is that the moon was once a man who lived on the Earth. He wished to give the old Kulin a drink of water, so that, when they died, they could after a time return to life again; but the Bronze-wing pigeon would not agree to this, which made the moon very angry. (M. E. B. Howitt, Legends and Folklore.)

The Bunurong people were often at war with the neighbouring Braiakolung and Brataolung people.

A ceremony to protect Kulin people from clans living outside the marr ne beek (Lohan’s Country) from spiritual beings who may have been hostile to them, was required before entering this Country (Howitt 1904).

Evidence of long Aboriginal occupation of the land can be found in: scar trees, stone tool artefact scatters, coastal or freshwater shell middens, burial sites.

Lime was transported on small flat-bottomed barges to boats in the channel between Sorrento Pier and the Baths.


1802

The first recorded encounter occured between the Aboriginal people and Europeans in Victoria 1802, with Lieutenant John Murray, RN, abroad HMS Lady Nelson.
The Lady Nelson replica "square rigged" brig's home port is Hobart, Tasmania

Tuesday, February 16th:

".........At sundown a native fire was seen about a mile inland, in the morning early I sent Mr Bowen and Bond armed to speak them, neither fell in with them. At 9 A.M. hove up our Bower with a light air at N.E. and dropped a few miles further up the Port. We now saw the same fire just lighted by the natives and presently perceived several of them come out of the Bush, but the moment they saw the vessel they sprang into the wood out of sight. At 11 A.M. we came to an anchor in 5 fathoms water, handed sails, etc., as there was a native fire burning a little way inland."

"I sent the launch with Mr Bowen and 4 hands armed to see if any natives were here, and before the boat was half-way on shore we had the satisfaction of seeing 18 or 20 men and boys come out of the wood and seat themselves down on a green bank waiting the approach of our boat with which I had sent some shirts and other trifles to give them; the boat accordingly landed in the midst of them and a friendly intercourse took place with dancing on both sides - in an hour the boat returned. Mr Bowen had dressed them in our white shirts and invited them on board, this however they declined, but exchanged for all this. Got a basket of straw neatly enough made. They were all clothed in the skins of opossums and each had a bundle of spears, a stone mogo and one basket. They wished much to know what our arms were and their use and did not seem entirely to believe Mr Bowen that they were only walking sticks - no women were amongst them. I sent the boat again with some bread, looking-glasses, tomahawk and a picture as presents to induce them to part with their weapons and dresses as also to inform us where there was water. This day all hands put upon two-thirds allowance of bread."


Wednesday, February 17th:

"Fresh light airs inclinable to calm throughout this 24 hours. The boat (as mentioned in latter part of yesterday's log) proceeded to the shore and was as before received in a friendly manner by the natives, all of whom were seated in a circle on a beautiful spot of grass near a high point of land. Mr Bowen and all the crew consisting of 5 men and the boy, Mr Brabyn, went up with their dinners in their hands and sat down in the midst of them (18 in number) and began to eat showing the natives how to eat bread, etc., and gave them anything they chose to ask for. Mr Bowen gave them all the things I had sent as well as several of his own things - stripping himself almost naked to comply with their wishes, and his example was followed by the whole of the boat's crew. As there was two fine-looking boys amongst them I sent Mr Brabyn on shore purposely to see and gain their confidence by his attention to their youngsters, both of whom he dressed in his shirts, handkerchiefs, trowsers, etc."

"All matters continued in this state while our people had anything to give and all we got was a spears, a basket and a mogo and even these they again took from the seamen that had them in keeping, this however the officer took no offence at being determined if at all possible to keep on friendly terms with them. It was in vain that the officer and crew tryed by signs too significant not to be understood to gain intelligence where water was to be found or on what beaches shells were most plentiful, to all such enquiries they turned a deaf ear and only seemed intent on getting what our people had even to the last shirt; by this time our people had nearly finished their dinners and Isaac Moss having the boat in charge got up and was walking slowly down to her. At this time the Boy Brabyn happened to turn his head towards the wood and saw a man in the very act of throwing a spear at Moss as well as a large body (not before seen) behind a large fallen tree with their spears all in readiness for throwing. The boy immediately cried out to Mr Bowen who was at that very time in the act of serving out bread to all the party he was sitting among that he would be speared, but before the words were out of his mouth, a spear of a most dangerous kind, was thrown at and did not escape Moss by a yard and in an instant the whole of the treacherous body that Mr Bowen and 4 of our people were sitting in the midst of opened out to the right and left and at once left them all open to the party in ambush who immediately were on their feet and began to throw spears; still such was the forbearance of the officer that only one piece was fired over their beads but this was found only to create a small panic, and our party were obliged to teach them by fatal experience the effect of our walking sticks."

"The first fire made them run and one received two balls between his shoulders, still some of them made a stop to heave; the second fire they all set off with astonishing speed and most likely one received a mortal wound. Before another piece was fired Mr Bowen laid hold of one of their number and held on till three of our people came up and also grappled him, strange to tell he made such violent struggles as to get away from them all nor did the contents of the officer's piece bring him up although one ball passed through his arm and the other in the side - he was traced a good distance by his blood - the remaining pieces were by this time fired and our party gave chase to them all." 
Read here

Three weeks later the French explorer Nicolas Baudin sailed through the strait from east to west.

As Britain was involved in the French revolutionary wars, Governor King was concerned that Bass Strait could harbour enemy raiders.

According to the explorer Hovel, Aboriginal women were taken by sealers. The sealing industry operated around Bass Strait from 1801 to 1830.

William Buckley, a convict from Macclesfield, England, in 1802, escaped from the British prison at Sorrento.

The first British settlement occurred at Sullivan Bay in October 1803, near modern-day Sorrento, under the command of Colonel David Collins, formerly judge-advocate of New South Wales, along with convicts, marines and free settlers, which landed at Sullivan Bay.

On 16th October, the printing of the first news sheet occurred.
Photographic print of printing press supposedly used at Collins' Sorrento settlement, 1803-1804. The press was housed in Perth Public Library at time of photograph, likely 1932. State Library Victoria Collections
The provisions for the settlement were damaged and the settlement's diet had to be supplemented with kangaroos and other game. This led to clashes with Aboriginal people.

The first magistrates' court, public hospital, postal service and government printing office in Victoria were established here.
Colonel David Collins (3 March 1756 – 24 March 1810) was a British Marine officer 
The area, however, had a lack of fresh water, poor soil and timber, and there was conflict with the local Aboriginal people.

Collins moved to the Derwent River in Van Diemen's Land in 1804.

The Sorrento settlement was a British base aimed at preventing French attempting to gain advantage. Interestingly, a confidential report from one of the explorers on the Nicholas Baudin expedition has revealed that French considered destroying the British colony. Read here.here

William Buckley, a convict, escaped from Sorrento and lived for more than 30 years with the Wathaurong people before approaching John Batman's party in 1835. Read John Morgan's The Life and Adventures of William Buckley as history

Buckley said, "They called me Murrangurk [an Aboriginal name generally used for persons believed to be reincarnated; to have returned from the “sky land,...."
Portrait of convict William Buckley, oil on canvas
In September 1836, the Port Phillip land district was proclaimed open for settlement. European settlers then began quarrying and burning lime, fishing and agriculture.

In June 1839 John Fawkner was advertising Nepean lime for sale in Melbourne.

1850s

In 1852, the Boonwurrung people were allocated 340 hectares (840 acres) at Mordialloc Creek.

Point Nepean quarantine station operated from 1852 until it officially closed down in 1980.

1860s

Thirty-three years After William Buckley escaped from prison at Sorrento, a farmer came upon a white man speaking an Aboriginal language. This man had an extremely long beard and wore possum skins. Once the man learnt to speak English again, he informed the authorities that he was William Buckley and he had spent 33 years living with Aboriginal people.
The first settlers discover Buckley Frederick William Woodhouse, 1861, oil on canvas.
William Buckley was a convict, who escaped from custody at Sorrento in 1803. He lived for 30 years with the Aboriginal people of the Bellarine Peninsula. This painting depicts the moment when, on 6 July 1835, Buckley walked into the base camp established by John Batman at Indented Head.
Coranderrk Aboriginal reserve was operated by the Victorian government between 1863 and 1924, located around 50 kilometres (31 mi) north-east of Melbourne. The residents were mostly, Woiwurrung, Bunurong and Taungurong peoples

Sir Charles Gavan Duffy (1816-1903), an Irish nationalist and Victorian statesman built a holiday house, at Point King, and named it Sorrento.

1870s

George Coppin, comedian, politician, philanthropist and businessman, took an interest in the development of Sorrento, where he had a seaside home.
MR. G. S. COPPIN. Died March 14, 1906. Aged 87. Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 17 March 1906
In 1870 George Coppin chartered a paddle steamer and took a group of businessmen to Sorrento to show them the area's potential. The padlesteamer ran aground, and the group landed with rowing boats. 

The Sorrento pier was built in 1870.

In 1871, the Census showed that Sorrento, including Portsea, had 22 occupied houses with 98 inhabitants.

Sorrento Hotel, a limestone and brick hotel, was built in a number of stages from 1872 for P.J. Martin.

PS Williams was a passenger steamer and tug that charged £1 for a return ticket to Sorrento. It commenced running to Sorrento on 9th November, 1872.

Coppin's Ocean Amphitheatre Company constructed a road to the back beach, and a large rotunda in 1874. The company also built the front beach sea baths. 

The Sorrento and Queenscliff Steam Navigation Company (also Coppin), bought the Golden Crown paddle steamer, which transported 2000 visitors Melbourne in its first season. Latter paddle-streamers were Ozone, the Hygeia and Weeroona.

Sorrento was becoming a popular holiday resort for moneyed Melbourne people.
Sorrento from the steamer, VIC, SLVIC
George Coppin's companies bought land in the centre of Sorrento, and he built the Continental Hotel in 1875. A horse-drawn tramway took passengers from the ferry up the hill to the hotel.

George Choppin sponsored the Mechanics’ Institute built in 1877.

1880s

While holidaying at Sorrento, 24 January 1885, Nellie Melba organised a concert to provide a new fence for the cemetery, singing, The Angel at the Window (Tours) and Sing, Sweet Bird (Ganz), and raising £20 for the cause. (3.)
Nellie Melba in costume for Lucia di Lammermoor, 1888 (photo by Nadar)
Continental Hotel, Sorrento, VIC, c. 1880-1885, was built in 1875 of locally quarried limestone. State Library of Victoria
Coppin built a road in 1889 to his Ocean Amphitheatre at the back beach. His steam tramway opened in 1890.
Tram to The Back Beach, Sorrento, VIC

1890s

Opposite the Continental Hotel was Stringers Stores, the Athenaeum Theatre, and the Oriental Coffee Palace.
STEAM TRAM. SORRENTO, VICTORIA. 1890
The Pier, Sorrento, Victoria, circa 1890s.
Group of men and a woman on the pier at Sorrento, steamer in dock. Victoria, 1890's/ 1910.
"Hygeia" and passengers at the pier, Sorrento, Victoria, circa 1890/1910
HORSE DRAWN TRAM, SORRENTO, VIC. 1895/1900
Sorrento Hotel, Sorrento, Victoria. Melbourne Weekly Times. December 23 1899
ALLEN'S COFFEE PALACE. The Back Beach at Sorrento, VIC. is the place towards which the Bay trippers turn as by instinct. At the top of the precipitous cliffs, but well sheltered from the fierce storms which occasionally come from the Southern Ocean, is Mr James Allen's Coffee Palace,;;; Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 23 December 1899

1900s

The Whitehall Guesthouse was constructed in 1903/04 by James Allen and had accomodation for 100 guests.
SORRENTO STEAM TRAM, VICTORIA. AROUND 1900/1905. Commencing in 1890, a Steam Tram operated from the Pier where it picked up Steamer passengers, running about 2 kilometres along a 3’6” NG track down the centre of the main street, to the back beach. The tramway operated during the tourist season, beginning on the 1st November and ending about the 30th June. The Steam Tram ran at peak times working in conjunction with a horse drawn car. SLVIC
George and Lucy Coppin in front of the private theatre they had built at their house the 'Anchorage' at Sorrento, Victoria, ca. 1901, NLAUST
Sorrento beach, Victoria - very early 1900s, Kaye
Sorrento Post Office building at 10-16 Ocean Beach Road (now used for retail and a cafe), dates from 1904 to 1905.
The Hygeia on her way to Sorrento, VIC, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 22 December 1904
View of Front Beach, Sorrento, VIC, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 22 December 1904
The Ozone at the pier, Sorrento, VIC, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 22 December 1904
View of the pier, Sorrento, VIC. Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 22 December 1904
Watching the races, Sorrento, VIC, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 2 March 1905
Georgina Wardell sitting outside "Ivanhoe", Sorrento, VIC, 1905, SLVIC
Women washing up outside a building, Sorrento, Victoria, ca. 1900 - ca. 1910, State Library Victoria Collections
Off to Back Beach, Sorrento, VIC,  Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935), Saturday 27 February 1909
At The Back Beach, Sorrento, VIC
Victorian Softgoods Association Picnic to Sorrento. VIC. Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 30 January 1908
Victorian Softgoods Association Picnic to Sorrento. VIC. Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 30 January 1908
By 1910, the Mechanics' Institute's library contained 2015 books.
Whitehall' at Sorrento, Victoria - 1910, Kaye
Sorrento, Victoria, Australia, The National Archives UK
POST OFFICE EMPLOYES' PICNIC AT SORRENTO, VIC, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 23 February 1911
POST OFFICE EMPLOYES' PICNIC AT SORRENTO, VIC, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 23 February 1911
MEMBERS OF THE LADIES' WELSH CHOIR At the Welsh picnic held at Sorrento on St. David's Day. Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 11 April 1912
The Sorrento Tramway commenced operations in 1890, running tourists from a platform cut into the cliffside overlooking the pier ~ through the centre of town ~ to the ocean or "back beach", SLVIC
Sorrento Hotel at Sorrento, Victoria - 1914, Kaye

WWI

During World War I and World War II, the Mechanics' Institute hall was used by the Red Cross for making items and packing parcels for Australian troops.

The fortifications at Fort Nepean helped protect Melbourne during World War I and II. It is 10 minutes drive from Sorrento to Point Nepean National Park, where you can Explore military forts and tunnels.
Whitehall Guesthouse and The Back Beach Palace Sorrento, VIC, 1914

ROLL OF HONOUR

Albert George Hibbert

Service number

706

Rank

Lance Corporal

Unit

31st Australian Infantry Battalion

Service

Australian Imperial Force

Conflict/Operation

First World War, 1914-1918

Conflict Eligibility Date

First World War, 1914-1921

Date of Death

21 July 1916

Place of Death

France

Cause of Death

Killed in action

Place of Association

Sorrento, Victoria, Australia

Cemetery or Memorial Details

VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France

Source

AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Friday 31 December 1915

1920s

The last tram operated at Easter in 1921.
THE REMAINS OF A BYGONE FEAST. Aboriginal middens on the beach near Sorrento (V.). Many of these middens are to be found along the Victorian coast. Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 17 July 1926
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Saturday 13 March 1920
The Continental Hotel, Sorrento, 1920s.

1930s

Mornington (Koonya) Hotel on the left and Clark's cottage behind the white picket fence, Sorrento, VIC, 1939
George Coppin's companies bought land in the centre of Sorrento, VIC, and he built the Continental Hotel in 1875. 1930s

1940s and WWII

During World War II,  Whitehall Guesthouse was made available to families of servicemen by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It later became a Migrant Workers’ Hostel.
Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Thursday 21 November 1940
Lounge & Ballroom, "Romany Lodge", Sorrento, Victoria - circa 1940s, Kaye
 Roadside chat at Sorrento, VIC, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 29 March 1941
Back Beach Road, Sorrento, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 11 July 1945
Sorrento Red Cross members have raised £2000: Mesdames O. Nelson, R. Elliott, A. Wooster (Pres.),
H. Redman, F. Montgomery (Sec.), C. Mackinnon, B, King, E. A. Somers (V.P.), R.H. Cooper,W. Clarke, H. Watts. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 11 July 1945
Sorrento, VIC, Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Wednesday 2 January 1946
RETURNED MEN BASK IN SUNSHINE at Sorrento Rest House where tariff is £2/10/ a week for a fortnight's stay. Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Tuesday 21 May 1946
BACK ROW (Left to Right): H. Stringer (boundary umpire), L. Hill, R. Knight, F. Lancaster, A.A. Rochester and J. Boykett. CENTRE ROW (Left to Right): E. Skelton (capt.), N. White, J. King, K. Spunner, A. Wilson, C. Jennings. FRONT ROW (Left to Right): S. Wilson, J. Skelton, J. White, R. Stringer, B. Wilson, V. Russell, H. Wilson (vice-capt.). Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1939 - 1949), Thursday 9 May 1946
SORRENTO GOLE CLUB LADIES DAY Holiday Tournament Opens. Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Saturday 25 January 1947

1950s

Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento, Victoria. No date

1960s

In October 1967, the Historical Society opened the Sorrento Museum in the Mechanics' Institute.

On 17th December 1967, Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared, presumed drowned while swimming at Cheviot Beach which is part of the Point Nepean National Park, near Sorrento.

Trooper David Thompson of Sorrento, Vic, a member of C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, served in South Vietnam.

1990s

The 1990 play, Hotel Sorrento, was written by Hannie Rayson.

Hotel Sorrento is a 1995 Australian drama film based on Hannie Rayson's play.

2003

A re-enactment of the landing of Victoria's first European settlers 200 years ago took place at Sorrento. 

The replica of HMS Lady Nelson visited Sorrento in Port Phillip Bay.

2020

Discovery of an Aboriginal shell midden put a stop to South East Water works at Sorrento. See here


Around Sorrento


Sorrento Hotel is a Late Victorian, limestone and brick hotel built in a number of stages from 1872, Sorrento, VIC
Small Pier - Sorrento, Victoria
Eastcliff Cottage, Sorrento, VIC, built in 1880 by George Morce
The Athenaeum theatre was built in 1894 in the commercial centre of the seaside town of Sorrento, which became a popular destination in the 1880s. Designed by Melbourne architect, J. F. Gibbins
Whitehall was a private guesthouse built at the end of Ocean Beach Road, constructed by George Selth Coppin in 1889 to service his Ocean Amphitheatre at the back beach in Sorrento and provide tracks for his steam tramway that began taking passengers in 1890
Watts Cottage, Sorrento, VIC. Built in 1869 from 'wattle and daub' with roof shingles cut from trees at Arthurs Seat and a dirt floor
Dalwhinnie, Sorrento, VIC, was built by the Sorrento Tramway Company in 1913
Melbourne Road, Sorrento, VIC
Sorrento House, Sorrento, VIC, is a Federation Arts and Crafts house built 1915
Westbank, Sorrento, VIC, built 1910
The former home of Local builder James W Tayton and his workshop, store was once here. The original residence was constructed in 1906, Sorrento, VIC
The Koonya Hotel in Sorrento, VIC, was originally named the Mornington Hotel when it was built in 1876
200 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento, VIC, was built by James Tayton in an almost Art Nouveau style
Larnoo (1911), 19 Darling Road, Sorrento
Former defensive facility, Fort Nepean, VIC
Former defensive facility, Fort Nepean, VIC
Former defensive facility, Fort Nepean, VIC. Preserved barrel 1489 which fired the first shot of World War I. To the left is barrel 1317 which fired Australia's first shot of World War II.
Point Nepean Quarantine Station, VIC


Things To Do and Places To Go




Point Nepean National Park is open daily: Quarantine Station, Fort Nepean and their surroundings. (gun emplacements, barracks, tunnels, ammunition magazines, an engine house and even a bomb-proof room)