OVERVIEW
Merricks Beach is
a small seaside village on
the Mornington Peninsula. It is located on the eastern side of the peninsula on
Western Port Bay. It is one of the few coastal places within a 100 km radius of
Melbourne that has been basically untouched by development. Its local government
area is the Shire of Morninton Peninsula.
An interesting fact about
Merricks Beach is that all of the streets in the area are still unsealed and it
has experienced little change since the 1960s. Because of this the area is very
rustic and many manna gums and pine
trees line the side of the streets.
The area also has a significant
Koala population, which has been able to survive because of the lack of
development. In recent years, the median house price of the area has skyrocketed
because of the exclusiveness that the area has to offer. Because there is only a
limited number of houses allowed in Merricks Beach, any properties on the market
are highly sought - no matter their age or size.
Summer is the most popular time
at Merricks Beach due to the Christmas holidays and warm weather.
HISTORY
The
town was established in the 1910s but
was reasonably small until a large boom in the sixties. At that time, many
houses were built and new facilities were established.
PRESENT
DAY
Today, housing prices have boomed and Merricks
Beach has become
quite a sought after area. Many new blocks and houses have been built in the
area.
FEATURES
The Merricks main beach is the main
feature of Merricks Beach. You can swim at the beach anytime, and at any tide.
There aren't many rocks on the main beach, and is a rather calm beach with
little waves. The main beach is very popular at summer. On the foreshore is the
Merricks Beach Yacht Club, and toilet facilities. Further down, are two tennis
courts.
There is a high cliff after the
main beach on the eastern side. Great views of Phillip Island, the peninsula and
Western Port Bay can be seen from the top of the cliff. This area of Merricks
Beach is quite sought after and expensive. In some areas, this stretch of beach
can be quite rocky and full of rock pools in the low tide. During high tide,
there can be some big waves and is quite popular with surfers.
On the western side, there
hasn't been much development and it is mainly a farming area.
FORESHORE AND
PARKS
The Merricks Beach Foreshore is located behind
the beach. It
separates the houses from the beach and creates a great area for wildlife. Lots
of wildlife can be found there including koalas, possums and many types of
birds. The foreshore reserve starts on Cliff Road up on the cliff, and goes down
to the yacht club at the main beach. The Merricks Beach Foreshore Committee
cares for the foreshore and has regular clean ups and tree planting
days.
The Bill Carrol Reserve, known
to the local community as "The Snake Farm", is located on Palmers Hill Road. It
was established a few years ago and has a wonderful wetland and bird watching
area. Picnic tables and new tracks have been added to the small but peaceful
park. Lots of flora and fauna can be found here including koalas and possums.
There is also the Friends of Bill Carrol Reserve which (like the Foreshore
Committee with the foreshore,) cares for the park and does regular
maintenance.
YACHT
CLUB
The
Merricks Beach Yacht Club is on the main beach. It was established many years
ago and has been a main part.
