Ocean Grove | |||||||||||||
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 One of the many beaches at Ocean Grove | |||||||||||||
  Ocean Grove | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:38°15′0″S144°31′0″E / 38.25000°S 144.51667°E /-38.25000; 144.51667 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Victoria | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 14,165 (2016 census)[2] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 3226 | ||||||||||||
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Ocean Grove is a town inVictoria,Australia, located on theBellarine Peninsula. At the2021 census, Ocean Grove had a population of 17,714.[2]
In 1869, AmericanMethodists established a permanentreligious camp community on the coast atOcean Grove, New Jersey, in theUnited States of America. It was so successful that they decided to spread their camps overseas, including to Australia. Following a collaboration with the Victorian Methodists, an initial camp was set up nearPoint Lonsdale. By 1882 they needed to acquire a larger area, so they could establish their Australian Ocean Grove community.[3]
The site chosen was on the eastern side of the mouth of theBarwon River, overlookingBass 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". Due to this covenant, no bars or public houses could sell liquor within the town limits. The Ocean GroveCoffee Palace was built for the Methodist andTemperance Society, the firstchurch service was held on 1 January 1888, and the population was such that apost office opened on 14 September 1888.[4][5]
In 1927, the town was linked by theBarwon Heads Bridge toBarwon Heads on the other side of the river, previous access being byrowboat.
Many streets were named after important people in the Methodist community, while the local youth camp was run by the Methodist (laterUniting) Church from the 1920s until 1996.
In 2014, theVictorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruled that the liquor ban was no longer enforceable.[6] The township now has a number of bars that can legally serve alcohol.
Collendina is a small section of Ocean Grove.[7] When the town of Ocean Grove was established it was a Methodist town, and it was the ruling of the Methodists that it would remain adry town. Because Ocean Grove was free of alcohol outlets, the town of Collendina grew up around the Collendina pub and caravan park just outside the Ocean Grove boundary. Eventually the two towns merged to form one urban area. The prohibition was officially lifted in Ocean Grove in 2006, although many cafes and restaurants were already beginning to serve alcoholic drinks.
Now the largest town on theBellarine Peninsula, Ocean Grove has the largestshopping centre on the peninsula. Only a few blocks from the beach, it is popular with tourists and locals alike. In 2005 a new shopping centre was built in the Collendina area, allowing the locals to shop at bothColes andWoolworths supermarkets.
Ocean Grove has a resident population of about 12,000 which, during the schoolsummer holidays, swells to four times this number as tourists from Melbourne, Geelong, interstate, and overseas flock in. The area offerssurfbeaches,fishing,kayaking,canoeing,bushwalkingswimming and other outdoor activities. TheOcean Grove Nature Reserve preserves some remnant nativewoodland and containswalking tracks.
Significant infrastructure development in Ocean Grove during 2008-2009 has resulted in two soccer pitches, indoor swimming complex complete with a 25m pool and a four-star Skate Park with Bowl suitable for boards, blades and bikes, and a gym.
Whiletourism makes the largest contribution to the local economy, during the slower months a larger proportion of local income is derived fromorchards,fruit andvegetablegrowers, and the localwineries.
One of the local newspapers is theOcean Grove Voice.
In December 2019 the Kingston Village shopping complex located on Grubb Road opened to the public. It is the biggest shopping complex on the peninsula.
The town has anAustralian Rules football team competing in theBellarine Football League.[8]
The Ocean Grove Soccer Club[9] competes in theGeelong Regional Football Association.
Golfers play at the course of the Ocean Grove Golf Club on Guthridge Street.[10]
The town hosts a Bi-annual Geelong gaming competition with teams from around the greater Geelong region competing for a minor cash prize and qualification for the state competition held in Broadmeadows.
Other Sports:Shell Road Complex & Surrounds
There are also two tennis clubs with modern facilities - Ocean Grove Tennis Club - Madeley St and Surfside Tennis Club - Shell Road (next to the new aquatic and sports centre).
Ocean Grove was featured in the 2006filmKenny, while the bridge between Ocean Grove andBarwon Heads featured in the popularABCtelevision showSeaChange. The town is also the home town of fishing personality Ross Gould.
The rock bandThe Murlocs formed in Ocean Grove.
The metal bandOcean Grove is named after the town.
