Victor Harbor South Australia
City of Victor Harbor, South Australia, viewed from The Bluff.
Population:	10,380 2006 Census [1]
Established:	1837
Postcode:	5211 [2]
Location:	85 km (53 mi) South of Adelaide via
LGA:	City of Victor Harbor
State District:	Finniss
Federal Division:	Mayo

View west from bluff at Victor Harbor, South Australia.

Victor Harbor is a city located on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, located 80km south of Adelaide, South Australia. The city is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries. It is also a highly popular tourist destination, with the city's population greatly expanded during the summer holidays.

[edit] History

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The sheltered bay on which Victor Harbor sits was discovered by Matthew Flinders in the HMS Investigator in April of 1802. Flinders was surveying the then unknown South Australian coast from the West. He then encountered Nicolas Baudin in the Le Geographic near the Murray Mouth several kilometers to the east of the present day location Victor Harbor. Baudin was surveying the coast from the East for Napoleonic France. The ships returned to the bay and sheltered while the captains, whose countries were at war, compared notes. Flinders named the bay Encounter Bay after the meeting.

In 1837 two whaling stations were established, one at the Bluff (Rosetta Head) and the other near the point opposite Granite Island and whale oil became South Australia’s first export. The last whale was caught off Victor in 1872.

In his ship, “HMS Victor”, Captain Crozier anchored just off Granite Island and named the adjacent mainland Victor Harbor after his ship. The town of Victor Harbor itself did not exist until 1863, when stone buildings first appeared.

Victor Harbor was originally called Port Victor, but its name was changed in 1921, as a result, it is said, of a near shipwreck blamed on confusion with Port Victoria in the Yorke Peninsula. Despite the fact that harbour is normally spelt with a u in Australian English, the name of the city is spelt Victor Harbor. This spelling, found in several geographical names in South Australia, including Adelaide Outer Harbor, is the result of spelling errors made by an early Surveyor General of South Australia. Conversely Victor Harbour railway station is spelt with the u.

[edit] Government

The area has a population of around 13,000, but can swell to close to 50,000 in summer time, and was declared a city in 2000. As a Local Government Area, the City of Victor Harbor includes the surrounding rural area and the contiguous township of Encounter Bay as well as the town of Victor Harbor itself; its total area is 34,463 hectare. It shares boundaries with the District Councils of Yankalilla and Alexandrina Councils. The city is in the state electoral district of Finniss and the federal Division of Mayo.

[edit] Attractions

Causeway leading to Granite Island from Victor Harbor, South Australia.

Horse drawn tram on causeway at Victor Harbor, South Australia.

A popular site for visitors is Granite Island, which is connected to the mainland by a short tram/pedestrian causeway. The tram service is provided by the Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram, one of the very few horse-drawn tram routes remaining in public transit service. Granite island is home to a large colony of Fairy Penguins which are a popular attraction on the island. These penguins shelter on the island during the night, departing in the morning to hunt for fish before returning at sunset.

The Cockle Train historic railway operated by SteamRanger runs steam locomotive services between Victor Harbor and Goolwa stations. This route is the oldest rail route in Australia.

During the months of June to September, whale spotting is a popular attraction. Southern Right Whales often rest in the nearby waters. The South Australian Whale Centre located at Victor Harbor provides hands on interactive activities and presentations as well as information on whale watching tips.

Greenhills Adventure Park offers activities including: waterslides, canoes, rock wall climbing, archery, mini golf, and go-karting.

Victor Harbor is the centre of the surf zone known as the "South Coast" to Adelaide and local surfers. Popular surf beaches in the area include Parsons, Waitpinga, Middleton and Goolwa. The Granite Island breakwater usually shields the town from waves.

Victor Harbor also offers numerous fishing opportunities varying from offshore reefs for larger boat based anglers to excellent surf fishing on the beaches closer to the Murray Mouth.

[edit] Festivals and Events

This town hosts a three day Schoolies Week festival in late November mainly for South Australian school leavers. Victor Harbor hosts the second largest Schoolies Week Festival after the Gold Coast. The centre of the town is a dry zone and hosts various live music and other events for participants.

[edit] References

• Charles R. Hodge, Guide-book to Victor Harbour (the miniature Naples of Australia) and the South Coast, Adelaide: The Advertiser, 1930, OCLC 37077169.

[edit] External links

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)

• City of Victor Harbor
• Steamranger Tourist Railway
• South Australia Central
• Tourism South Australia

Coordinates: 35°33′S 138°37′E / 35.55°S 138.617°E / -35.55; 138.617