Portland

Portland is a historic coastal town in the Glenelg Shire of south-west Victoria, Australia, situated on Portland Bay. Established in 1834 as Victoria's first permanent European settlement by Edward Henty, it is notable for its deep-water port, well-preserved 19th-century heritage buildings, and natural coastal setting. The town serves as a base for exploring the Great South West Walk, Cape Nelson and Cape Bridgewater, and is known for whale watching, fishing and maritime history.

Visitors can expect a working port town set on a sheltered bay with a historic foreshore, heritage streetscapes, and rugged coastal scenery. The town centre has 19th-century bluestone buildings, the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre, botanic gardens and a harbour precinct. Surrounding areas offer sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs at Cape Nelson and Cape Bridgewater, coastal walking trails, lookouts, and opportunities for fishing, boating and seasonal whale watching from lookouts and boat tours.

Portland is recognised as Victoria's first permanent European settlement, established in November 1834 by pastoralist and whaler Edward Henty. Early economy centred on whaling, sealing and pastoralism. The town developed as a major port in the 19th century, with many bluestone heritage buildings, the port and tramway infrastructure reflecting its maritime and agricultural history. The Portland Botanic Gardens, established in 1857, are among Victoria's earliest regional botanic gardens.

The Portland area is part of Gunditjmara Country, with long-standing Aboriginal cultural heritage along the coastline and hinterland. As a historic port and fishing town, Portland retains strong maritime cultural traditions, reflected in the Maritime Discovery Centre, heritage trails and preserved 19th-century architecture that illustrate colonial settlement patterns in south-west Victoria.