Mount Martha, Victoria

Mount Martha
Melbourne, Victoria
Mount Martha
Coordinates 38°16′01″S 145°01′05″E / 38.267°S 145.018°E / -38.267; 145.018Coordinates: 38°16′01″S 145°01′05″E / 38.267°S 145.018°E / -38.267; 145.018
Population 17,087 (2011)[1]
 • Density 993.4/km2 (2,573/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 3934
Area 17.2 km2 (6.6 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Mornington Peninsula
State electorate(s) Mornington, Nepean
Federal Division(s) Flinders
Suburbs around Mount Martha:
Port Phillip Mornington Moorooduc
Port Phillip Mount Martha Tuerong
Port Phillip Safety Beach Dromana

Mount Martha is a seaside town in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 60 kilometres (37 mi) south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. It is on the south-eastern shores of Port Phillip and offers a bathing beach. A boardwalk winds its way for more than 5 kilometres (3 mi) along the Balcombe Creek, its North beach mouth to the Briars Historic Park. The suburb's highest point bears the area's name and reaches 160 metres (520 ft). The peak was named after Martha Lonsdale, the wife of the colonist William Lonsdale.

It marks the start of the Selwyn fault, a geological formation which runs to the eastern Dandenong Ranges.

History

Mount Martha has its roots dating back to the 1840s when the township's major role was that of farming. The Briars Homestead in the town's east was constructed from 1848 to 1851 and was used by Alexander Balcombe until 1876 as he farmed the land surrounding it and tended to 100 acres (0.40 km2) of vineyards. The homestead was named after the lodging of the same name in Saint Helena. Dame Mabel Brookes collected Napoleonic memorabilia which was also donated to the Mornington Peninsula shire; some is on display at the house.[2]

In 1891, the Martha Hotel, designed by architects Tappin, Gilbert and Dennehy was constructed in a Federation Queen Anne style. Today, the building now known as Mt. Martha House serves as a community centre and is Victorian Heritage listed. As the population grew, Mount Martha Post Office opened around 1902.[3]

During the Second World War, Mount Martha's Balcombe Creek camp hosted the United States Marine Corps's 1st Marine Division in late 1942 following their involvement in the Battle of Guadalcanal.[4] After the conclusion of the war, it was progressively relocated or demolished until 1999. The area is now known as Balcombe Estuary and has barbecue facilities (including an open fireplace) as well as a children's play area in the west, and residential allocations were made in the east. Also during the Second World War, Mount Martha House had extensive use by the military and functioned as a Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) barracks up until 1978.

In 1978, a water treatment plant was constructed in the town's east. It services the nearby towns of Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Somerville, Pearcedale and Baxter, and provides treated water to local vineyards, a tree plantation and lawns.

View Looking South towards Mount Martha Beach

Today

More recently from the 1990s to the present the Mount Martha area has experienced significant population growth particularly in the south with the Martha Cove marina development as well as east towards the Moorooduc Highway.

Mount Martha is home to a volunteer CFA fire brigade responding on average to 180 calls a year for assistance from the community. Incidents range from grass and scrub fires, motor vehicle accidents, to house fires.

Mount Martha Surf Lifesaving Club holds the popular annual Mount Martha Australia Day Swim, the "MMAD Swim". Golfers play at the course of the Mount Martha Golf Club on Forest Drive.[5] Mount Martha is also home to public tennis courts, four football ovals and numerous grass reserves.

Bird Rock Beach, named from a basalt rock offshore, is a popular running and training place.[6]

Transport

Peninsula Link and the Mornington Peninsula Freeway are both major arterial routes to both Mount Martha and the Mornington Peninsula, from Melbourne (via the EastLink tollway).

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Mount Martha (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  2. ↑ I. Hackett (2006) Balcombe Family and "The Briars"Park, Mt Martha, Victoria tourist pamphlet published by Mornington Peninsula Shire.
  3. ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
  4. ↑ Bissett, Mark. "Race Around The Barracks: Balcombe Army Camp: Davison "Little Alfa"". primotipo.com. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Golf Select, Mount Martha, retrieved 11 May 2009
  6. ↑ Rowing News - Mar 21, 1999 Vol. 6, No. 3 "Bird Rock is infamous here," explains Kraft. "We Their coach, Australian native Dick Garrard has designed a challenging program that includes smart work on the water as well as hard work on the land. race each other as well as other athletes ...
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