Corinella

Overview

Corinella is a beautiful beachfront town overlooking Westernport Bay and French Island. The caravan park is on the foreshore.  Corinella has a jetty, slipway and an excellent 24-hour all-tide boat ramp. Boat hire is available and a barge operates to transport passengers, cars and stock to French Island.

A number of walking tracks at Settlement Point provide spectacular views overlooking Westernport and French Island.

History

The small town ship of Corinella situated on Westernport Bay is very significant to Australia's settled history being the site of the first Government House in Victoria and was a town at federation. Corinella was first explored in 1798 by George Bass and was later founded in 1826 originally known as Settlement Point.  A settlement was established in Corinella from 12 December, 1826 to 19 February 1828, by a party of soldiers and convicts under the command of Captain Samuel Wright.

A later expedition to the area was led by Paul Edmund de Strzelecki, a Polish-born, self-styled count in 1840.  The other members of the group were Paul Edmund de Strzelecki with James Macarthur, Charles Tarra, James Riley, John Kent and James Nolan. They travelled from New South Wales via Omeo in the Victorian Alps and then west through Gippsland and on to Westernport.

Places of interest

Jetty and old jetty shed
Slip way and all tide ramp
Mangroves
Board walks and walking tracks
French Island barge

Accommodation

Accommodation in Corinella includes a foreshore Caravan Park and B&B's. The historic McLeod prison on French Island is now converted into an eco tourist farm and B&B. For accommodation and other information go to www.visitbasscoast.com  or phone 1300 366422.

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