OCEAN GROVE
Ocean Grove is in effect an outlying suburb of Geelong. Therefore
there is no reason to visit. Now the largest town on
the Peninsula is a bit of a disaster.
Methodists from America decided to spread their camps
overseas, including to Australia. Following collaboration with the
Victorian Methodists, an initial camp was set up near Point Lonsdale.
By 1882 they needed to acquire a larger area, so they could establish
their Australian Ocean Grove community.
The site chosen was on the eastern side of the mouth
of the Barwon River overlooking Bass Strait.
In 1887, Charles James and James Grigg purchased,
surveyed and subdivided land into 2,500 blocks bearing the covenant "no
part of the above Land shall be used for the Manufacture or Sale of
Malted Spirituous, or Vinous Liquors".
In 1927 the town was linked by the new bridge to
Barwon Heads, an older and traditional community on the other side of
the river.
There is a remote hotel.
Ocean Grove has a manufactured War Memorial in an
afterthought location.
There is no Museum.
The Anglican 
and United Churches
are of note. The Anglican is open each day.
Narrow streets, no footpaths and all new. Ocean Grove
is a human environmental disaster. Fortunately Barwon Heads is at
arm’s length to save the citizens.
Heritage diary
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