Once upon a time, fishermen sought shelter here. These humble shelters might have given Crib Point its unusual name. Today, let’s explore this fascinating town on the Mornington Peninsula. Crib Point is sixty-four kilometers southeast of Melbourne’s Central Business District.
Crib Point has a population of 3,343. This was recorded in the 2021 census. It sits within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. Crib Point forms an urban community with Bittern, Hastings, Tyabb, and Somerville.
The Frankston-Stony Point railway spurred early development. Lots were surveyed in 1888. However, Crib Point remained a haven for fishermen. The establishment of the Flinders Naval Depot further changed Crib Point. It later became HMAS Cerberus. This naval base spurred the growth of a small community between 1913 and 1920. Residential and commercial growth accelerated in the 1960s. Westernport became a significant port and industrial center. BP Australia operated a refinery at Crib Point from 1966 to 1985.
Crib Point is a coastal village with significant environmental value. It is part of the Ramsar listed wetland. The wetland covers most of Westernport Bay. This is an area of 59,297 hectares. It is also part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – Western Port Biosphere Reserve.
Despite its ecological importance, Crib Point has faced industrial pressures. The community has successfully resisted reindustrialization attempts since the 1960s. Some of these attempts include: Proposed Western Mining ammonia-urea plant stopped in 1987. The Shell-Mobil super-tanker project stopped in 1992. A proposed Boral Bitumen plant stopped in 2007. The Port of Hastings Container Port strategy stopped in 2011.
The town of Crib Point has three railway stations. These are Morradoo, Crib Point, and Stony Point. Stony Point is the terminus of the Stony Point line. The Crib Point Post Office opened on July 18, 1890.
The town’s Australian Rules football team competes in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League. Crib Point is near the HMAS Cerberus naval base. A park with a long stretch of mangroves sits opposite the town. The Victorian Maritime Centre is temporarily located here. It will move to a permanent site in Hastings. The museum houses naval and merchant navy artifacts.
Melissa Woolley’s family has strong ties to Crib Point. Her great-great-grandfather, Ashton Woolley, selected 400 acres in 1875. He built the Woolley Homestead. Facing Westernport Bay, his son William built his home in 1929. British Petroleum pressured Bill Woolley to sell his property. Bill refused. The Western Point Refinery was built around his house. Bill lived there until he died around 1968.
Bill Woolley built a jetty and a cool room on the foreshore in 1903. He stored his catch there. It was transported to Melbourne by train. The cool room still stands. A sign says it was built by Bill Woolley. He stored fish and ice there on weekends.
Crib Point Cemetery is a small cemetery near Morradoo Railway Station. Clem Kleinig is the caretaker. He knows many people buried there. One grave belongs to Colin Joseph Whiston. He was the first Australian serviceman killed in Vietnam. The cemetery is known as one of the cheapest in the state. It is a place where those without family can find their final resting place.
Crib Point offers a blend of history, natural beauty, and community spirit. From its possible origins as a fisherman’s haunt to its role in environmental preservation, this town has a unique story. As we leave Crib Point, remember the struggles and triumphs that have shaped this special place.