Why go there?
History & Architecture / Yacht Club / Boat Harbour / Maritime heritage
- Imposing turrets, bizarrely shaped lighthouses, an ancient pier and majestic Norfolk pines all meld to provide the atmospheric quaintness that is Queenscliff. Street corners seem to be dominated by either churches or grand hotels. These impressive 19th century hotels were designed to catch the summer sea breezes. Suitably grand, they became the fashionable holiday destination for Melbourne’s elite in the late 1800s, who travelled down by paddle steamer. The Visitor Centre is housed in the oldest municipal building still in use. Unassuming fishermen’s cottages are interspersed amongst these grand old buildings. Before the Queenscliff Cemetery opened in 1856, the dead were buried in the dunes at the end of Learmonth St.
- Queenslciff Yacht Club was established in 1963, after members of the Royal Brighton Yacht Club voiced a desire for a club on the western side of Port Phillip Bay. The area near Queenscliff Spit was soon identified to be a suitable location for the new yacht club which welcomes visitors.
- Queenscliff Harbour is undergoing massive redevelopment by Parks Victoria, with completion planned for 2009. The plans include a 290 berth all weather harbour, restaurants and retail precinct, marine workshops and a straddle lift with boatyard. But for now the harbour has much of the ageing charm of yesteryear, with timber boardwalks and many pile moorings. Limited space is available to visitors.
- The charismatic Couta boat is indigenous to Queenscliff. These elegant boats with their expansive sail area are often seen racing and cruising the waters of southern Port Phillip Bay. They even have their own annual regatta each summer. Sea pilots also have an engaging history, operating out of Queenscliff to guide large ships through narrow entrance to Port Phillip, known as The Rip. The courage of these brave seafarers is recognised in the annual Sea Pilots race, organised by the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club.
Anchorage
Approach to the Queenscliff anchorage is via the dredged channel (with lateral beacons and leads onshore) that leads into the Queenscliff Harbour. Shallow water exists either side of the channel, which is dredged to 3mts. The Searoad Queenscliff to Sorento terminal, with its massive car carrying ferries, sits at the southern entrance to ‘the cut’. Avoid entering the channel if this ferry is manoeuvring.
Tidal stream can be strong, both running across the channel, then either running swiftly in or out of the harbour.
Visiting vessels should motor straight ahead, past the harbour on the left filled with fishing and commercial boats, until they reach the end of ‘the cut’ which then opens out into a large bay. Much of this bay dries at low tide; the only suitable anchorage is near the end of the cut, south of the yacht club buildings. Many boats are permanently moored in this area. The traffic bridge to the west prevents any further penetration for anything but small vessels wanting to access the boat ramp. Anchor over mud in approx 3mts.
Anchorage location: Lat 38deg 15.7S Long 144deg 40.0E
Best time to go
Queenscliff, like most boating destinations in the bay, is predominantly a summer destination. Sometimes however during the winter season, between the low pressure systems that tumble in from the west, conditions can be windless and still on the bay, which can be a suitable, albeit cold, time for a trip south from Melbourne city.
How long will it take to get there?
Travelling from Melbourne city, Queenscliff is approximately 30 nautical miles from Williamstown, give or take a few miles depending on which route is taken down the bay.
Where to obtain fuel, water or provisions
Queenscliff has all the services and provisioning options of a modern town. Fuel and water are available at the Queenscliff Harbour.
Information contained in this article should be used in conjunction with current nautical charts and aids. Whilst every endeavour has been made to ensure all information is correct at the time of writing, the author cannot accept responsibility for omissions or inaccuracies.
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