Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park

Gazing across the expanse of Port Phillip Bay, can you sense the echoes of history at Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park? This seemingly tranquil spot holds a captivating narrative, intertwined with the very beginnings of Victoria. Point Gellibrand was Victoria’s first permanent settlement and seaport. It played a vital role in the state’s early growth. Historian Geoffrey Blainey even called Point Gellibrand a heritage “sacred site,” comparing it to the First Fleet’s landing place. Imagine those first settlers stepping ashore, right here, where we stand. Point Gellibrand isn’t just about beginnings, it’s also a place of remembrance. Williamstown’s first burial ground was located here in 1842. Later, the bodies were exhumed and moved to North Williamstown, creating Australia’s largest mass grave. A vault with the surviving gravestones marks this solemn history. Point Gellibrand also witnessed technological advancements. The Southern Hemisphere’s first telegraph station connected the colony to England in 1854. The Victorian navy was also established here. The park’s history takes a darker turn in the mid-19th century. Although Victoria wasn’t founded on convict settlement, it did house convicts on prison hulks off Point Gellibrand. These convicts quarried the bluestone that shaped the area, including Battery Road where Ned Kelly himself toiled. Interestingly, some of this bluestone was used as ballast in ships returning to London. You can still see an anchor from one of these prison hulks near the Timeball Tower. This iconic tower, sometimes called Williamstown Lighthouse, is the second oldest lighthouse in Victoria. Originally built in the 1840s, it served as a timeball station, helping ships set their chronometers. Today, restored by the Williamstown Historical Society, it stands as a reminder of the park’s maritime significance. Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park is a blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and human stories. It’s a place where the past comes alive, whispering tales of settlers, convicts, and maritime innovation.