Phillip Island History
Phillip Island is located to the south east of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria. Only a 90 minute drive away from the CBD, Phillip Island has become known as Victoria’s Wildlife haven and more and more visitors are now making the penguin pilgrimage.
Phillip Island’s heritage is believed to belong to the Bunurong people, being a home to them for thousands upon thousands of years. In 1798, George Bass entered Western Port on a voyage of exploration, he had discovered, at the time, the most westerly harbour on the coast. Bass returned later that same year with Mathew Flinders and landed just near Rhyll Inlet. The pair named the Island “Snapper Island”, as they thought that Cape Woolamai resembled the head of a snapper. Soon after, in March 1801, Lieutenant James Grant made the voyage to the Island aboard The Lady Nelson to thoroughly explore the waters of Western Port, during this time he established the first simple cottage on the Churchill Island and consequently the first European settlement in what is now Victoria. The name ‘Phillip Island’ was coined later on in honour of Sir Arthur Phillip, Captain of the First Fleet, which arrived in Australia in 1788.
After a treat by French Explorers in Western Port, Governor Phillip sent a team of soldiers and convicts to the area to make claim for England. During this time a small settlement was established and sealers utilised the area so heavily that during the early 1840’s, they had to pack up and leave due to the incredibly shrinking number of seals in the region.
During the 1840’s, the Mchaffie family became the first permanent settlers, taking on a pastoral lease which covered the entire island. It performed as a sheep run until 1868 when the island was surveyed and become available to selectors.
One of the main flourishing industries on the Island was ‘Chicory’, an additive for coffee. This industry served as an important part of the Victorian Economy and a vital part in the history of Phillip Island’s industry boom.
Phillip Island’s local roads become home to the first Australian Grand Prix for cars in 1928. Now a purpose built track entices thousands of revelers each year to the Island, leather and all, to immerse themselves in the world of fast bikes!
Phillip Island nowadays is made up of approx 60% farmland, predominantly sheep and cattle. The island’s main industry is Tourism. The lure of the Phillip Island Penguin Parade is one of Australia’s biggest attractions, with an estimated million visitors annually.
People have been visiting Phillip Island to view the native Little Penguins for over 80 years. With a bridge opening in the 1940’s, connecting mainland San Remo to Phillip Island, the tourist found an easier way to be a part of the Little Penguin experience. To protect the natural beauty and spectacularly diverse wildlife, Phillip Island Nature Park was introduced in the late 1990’s, this not for profit park combines the significant eco-tourist and environment protection services of the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Island and many other significant conservation and tourism locations.