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Churchill Island

Tourist attractions

246 Samuel Amess Dr, Churchill Island, VIC 3925
+61 3 5951 2800

Description

Churchill Island is a 50.7-hectare (125.3-acre) island in Western Port, Victoria, Australia.

It is connected by a bridge to Phillip Island, which is in turn connected to the mainland by another bridge. It is the site of the first European garden in Victoria. It contains a working farm, cottages dating from the 1860s and a homestead dating from 1872, all fully restored and open to the public. The island adjoins the 670-hectare (1,656-acre) Churchill Island Marine National Park. The island is maintained by Phillip Island Nature Parks.

History

The Boonwurrong people may have visited Churchill Island for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. In 1801, during the course of a survey of Western Port, Lieutenant James Grant had some of his convict crew fell some trees and build a blockhouse on Churchill Island. They cultivated a patch of soil and Grant planted seeds of wheat, corn, potatoes, peas, coffee berries, apples, peaches and nectarines given to him for the purpose of creating a garden "for the future benefit of our fellow men be they Countrymen, Europeans or Savages" by John Churchill of Dawlish in Devon, England. This was the first European garden and crop of wheat grown in Victoria.Samuel Amess, a former mayor of Melbourne, purchased the island in 1872 and built the substantial home that still stands today.Remains of stone foundations from two unknown buildings are also preserved on the island.Churchill Island and the area around it served as the location for the 1977 Australian film Summerfield.

Natural environment

The Churchill Island Marine National Park adjoins the island's western shore, and Western Port bay, in which the island is located, is listed under the Ramsar Convention. Cape Barren geese can be frequently observed on the island.

== References ==

Details

Open days/Times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Natural attractions: Islands

Open Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Suited For: Kids, Wheelchairs

Location

246 Samuel Amess Dr, Churchill Island, VIC 3925

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Attribution

This article contains content imported from the English Wikipedia article on Churchill Island

Churchill Island - Localista

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