The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg and is located on Portland Bay. It is around 360 kilometres from Melbourne.
The Portland area was once occupied by the Kerrup-Tjmara people who called the district 'Pulumbete' meaning 'Little Lake'.
In December 1800; Lieutenant James Grant passed by the bay aboard the Lady Nelson, naming it after the British home secretary, the Duke of Portland. In 1802 this section of the coastline was scrutinized more closely by French navigator Nicolas Baudin.
Portland started as a sealing and whaling town. Now it is a major producer of aluminium, and you can tour around the aluminium smleter.
Other attractions include the Maritime Discovery Museum, History House and the Burswood Homestead, which was the home to the first settlers to Portland (the Henty family).
There is good surfing along the coastline around Portland at Black Nose Point, Bridgewater Bay, Crumpet and Point Danger. There are also several places to stay and some great eating places.
The Great South West Walk is a 250 kilometres walking track that begins at the Visitor Information Centre, Portland. It is D a long distance walking track but it is also ideal for short walks and day walks. The walk travels though forests, river gorges, cliff tops and sublime bays.
PLEASE NOTE: The Victoria travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for Victoria Holidays can be found on the main Victoria Holidays location guide.
