Churchill Island

Churchill Island VIC 3925

Churchill Island is a tiny (57 ha) historic island located 130 km south of Melbourne. It is joined to Newhaven by bridge and was originally part of Phillip Island. Both were discovered in 1798 and Churchill Island became Victoria’s earliest settlement when a cottage was built there in 1801. Various residencies and ownerships ensued over the years until the island was purchased by the Victorian Conservation Trust (1976) and became the Churchill Island NP. The island is a working farm with cattle, sheep and horses and a number of historic buildings - Rogers Cottages (c.1860), Amess Homestead (c.1872) and the Wash House (c.1900) and gardens remain as well as a museum featuring old farming machinery. There are also several excellent scenic walking trails - Bass Rock (30 min), Grant’s Monument (30 min), Mangrove Loop (45 min), North Point Loop (1 hour) & Churchill Island Loop (2 hours) where many examples of the island’s rich flora, fauna and birdlife can be enjoyed.

Visitor Information Centre: 895 Phillip Island Tourist Rd, Newhaven. Tel (03) 5956 7447 or 1300 366 422.