Somerville These days Somerville is largely a medium sized residential township at the top of the Mornington Peninsula. It is situated about an hour?s drive from Melbourne CBD to the North West, Portsea to the South and Phillip Island to the South East. Although it is near the centre of the Peninsula, the Somerville area is quite large, extending as far west as Coolart Road, almost to Baxter-Tooradin Road in the north, to O?Neills & Pikes Roads in the south and across to Western Port in the east.
Unlike many townships on the outskirts of Melbourne which have sprung up in recent years, Somerville has been a thriving community since the 1800?s with the first Somerville Post Office opening in November 1870. In those early years Somerville?s major claim to fame was it?s fruit growing and boasted exports to places all over the world and even conducted it?s own annual show from 1895 to 1939 reputed by some to be the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. A reminder of this history is the apple sculpture on top of the pole in Frankston ?Flinders Road near the railway crossing.
Like most places close to major cities, Somerville has become more of a residential area with a population around twice that of the better known town of Hastings, 2 stations further along the railway line. We have a large shopping area and commercial zone catering for everything that a modern community needs. In spite of all this it still has quite a large semi-rural area within its boundaries with numerous market gardens and other farming ventures. Several small to medium sized farms operate raising cattle, Alpacas, sheep as well as a winery just up the road at Baxter Valley Estate.
Inghams poultry plant is based in Somerville directly providing work for many in the area in addition to the farms dedicated to raising chickens for the plant. On the recreational side, there are the usual local sporting clubs and grounds; horse riding is very popular too as can be seen by the enormous number of properties with horses and the floats moving around on weekends. Golfers are also provided for with Bembridge golf course.
Craft work is another popular activity with classes and outlets like Fresh Field Alpacas where you can see the project from the animal through to the finished product and even make your own if that interests you. With Western Port on the eastern boundary the Yaringa precinct with the Yaringa Marine Park and the privately operated Yaringa Boat Harbour offering everything a boat enthusiast could want including storage, launch and retrieval, fishing boat hire and charter, chandlery and other boat services. There is also a very popular restaurant overlooking the marina.
If you are looking accommodation then there is the Western Port Harbour Caravan Park next door. The park is one of the few four star establishment on the peninsula and is tucked away in this corner of Somerville in what is often described as the best kept secret of the peninsula.
If you like to get away from the city and commune with nature then you will probably find many interesting things just up the road at the Moonlit Sanctuary, specialising in Australia?s nocturnal wildlife but with many other native animals for you to experience. At Somerville we have all this, city, country, boating and only 50km from the CBD.
