Here at Half Moon Bay, do you feel the gentle curve embracing the coastline? Half Moon Bay is more than just a picturesque location. It’s a place steeped in history and natural beauty.
Half Moon Bay is located in Black Rock. Black Rock is a suburb of Melbourne. It’s a valued gathering place. People have enjoyed it from the days of the Boon Wurrung people to today.
The Boon Wurrung people left evidence of their occupation. Protected camping locations and middens are in the dunes. These contain shells and charcoal from cooking fires. The Indigenous flora provided food, tools, and medicine. This was true for the Boon Wurrung, early colonists, and even today.
In earlier times, Half Moon Bay was a popular picnic spot. People traveled from all over Melbourne for day trips. Holidaymakers regularly stayed in Black Rock during the summer months.
The name Half Moon Bay comes from its crescent shape. The 350-meter-long bay faces north in the southern corner. It then swings around to face west along the northern section. The bay is partially protected. This makes it a long-time favorite for boating.
Half Moon Bay has a boat launching ramp and a 100-meter-long jetty. The remains of HMVS Cerberus are off the jetty. It was grounded in 1926. It provides additional shelter for the boats.
The Half Moon Bay Surf Life Saving Club is in the southern corner of the beach. It is next to boat sheds and the Black Rock Yacht Club. There is parking for both clubs and the boat ramp. Additional parking is on the northern bluffs. Walkways lead down to the beach.
The seawall in front of the Black Rock Yacht Club was built during the Great Depression. Sustenance workers constructed it. The Life Saving Club is the successor to the Black Rock Royal Life Saving Club. The smaller club was built in the early 1900s. It was the first of its kind on Port Phillip Bay.
After World War I, Red Bluff was used for a film about the Gallipoli landing. Painters, photographers, and filmmakers have depicted the weathered cliff face of Red Bluff. It stands at the northern end of Half Moon Bay.
Early pictures show the Bluff once extended further out to sea. Erosion has affected it. Run-off after heavy rain and people scrambling on the rock have contributed to the gullying.
The first Black Rock Post Office opened in 1902. It was renamed Half Moon Bay in 1922. It closed in 1968.
Take a moment to appreciate the scenery around Half Moon Bay. The views, the history, and the stories make this place special.