Portarlington Identity Project Working Group

The Portarlington Identity Project (PIP) Working Group (Terms of Reference) was formed as a sub-group of the PCA.

The PCA decided in 2024 to develop a clear statement that describes Portarlington's identity, so it can be used in promotion and advocacy on behalf of the town. A working group explored three decades of publications and reports to develop a key main description, with a list of ten valued features.

Portarlington’s Identity

Portarlington is a small, relaxed, coastal residential and holiday town in Wadawurrung Country, on the northern edge of the Bellarine’s rural hills. The warm and welcoming community enjoys and values its wide variety of facilities, activities and events, safe bay beaches, active harbour, and unique north facing views across Port Phillip Bay to the You Yangs and Melbourne.

Portarlington’s Valued Features

  1. A beachside lifestyle in the rural hills of the Bellarine with north-facing beaches and views across the Bay.
  2. A connected ‘village’ style community with many clubs, sports and activities.
  3. A dining and shopping strip with a unique northern view connection to the harbour across open parks and gardens.
  4. Recognition and celebration of Wadawurrung people’s culture.
  5. A rich multicultural history as a holiday, fishing and agricultural port.
  6. A safe harbour, bay beaches and pier for boating, fishing, the mussel industry and the Melbourne ferry.
  7. Easy access to the larger service towns of Drysdale and Ocean Grove and the cities of Geelong and Melbourne.
  8. A popular family-friendly recreation destination with its combination of food outlets, beach-side shady picnic parks, adventure playgrounds, calm swimming beaches, and foreshore paths for walks, cycling and sports events.
  9. A central point for north Bellarine’s rich wine and food attractions and its heritage listed natural coastal environment.
  10. A key events location with big open bayside parks and spaces for shows, markets, music, sports events and festivals such as the Mussel Festival, National Celtic Festival, Bellarine Agricultural Show.

The Community Survey of 2025, after collection and intensive collation, informed the PCA as to how Portarlington is viewed - please refer to the list of documents for in-depth information on this project.

The principal researcher, Dr Anne Whisken, has produced Portarlington's Identity: Community Participatory Action Research Report using the findings of the survey.

PIP Summary

Summary of Responses to PIP Survey

PIP Project Terms of Reference