Hotel Sorrento is the oldest commercial building in Sorrento.
the gracious andelegant Hotel building complete withtower is a community icon, flauntingmagnificent original locally cutlimestone.
Built by John farnsworth in1872 for P.
J.
Martin, the owner of theAustralian Brewery, it was intended tobe a Hotel and for over 150 years hasbeen run as one.
Hotel Sorrento s earliest guests were attracted to the tranquil and graciousbayside hotel as an escape from thebustling streets of Melbourne.
ferried then, by Weerona and Hygeia paddle steamers Hotel Sorrento was the first port of call.
in 1981, Margaret and ian Pitt bought the hotel.
the Pitt family were graziers and acquired the hotel with the viewto their second son, rob managing the business.the hotel has been rob's passion from day one.
rob later married Anne olle and together they began transforming the hotel as a teamwith enthusiasm and dedication.
in the late 1980's, Anne s father Alan olle Big Al joined the team.
offering guidance and experience from hisyears as a Melbourne publican.
He lived in the hotel with his wife Patsy for many years and were muchloved mentors to all.
Hotel Sorrento is proudly a family business at itsessence and every single member ofour team feel part of this family.
Anne and rob bought the hotel in the mid 1990's.
their children Bridget, Myles, Marcus and many cousins havealso become team players and so thefamily legacy lives on.
Anne and rob each and every year have spent time restoring thehotel back to its former grandeur, as well as a total refurbishment of accommodation, bars and kitchen.
the original building s solid structure has made it a brilliant canvass to work with.
it has evolved and transformed many times and they fully intend forthis to continue.
tHe MillioNAireS WAlk Many of Portsea s attractions are free the beach, the pier, the parks and so many wonderful walks.
one walk many find irresistible is variouslycalled the millionaire's walk , the green gate walk or the newly signposted Sorrento - Portsea Artists' trail.
Begin at the end of Point king road Mel 157 A4 .
Go to the end of the road and turn right going through the green gate, one of many gates along the way.
Please keep in mind, though the cliff top is public land, the walk runs rightalong the front of many beautifulprivate properties.
continue along the walk stopping to have a look at the cairn and artists' trail sign at Point king.
113.indd 1 Along the path you'll take inincredible sea views on your left andmagnificent homes on your right.
there are two artist trail signs at the point that juts out farthest from thecliff past the two white metal gates beyond cliff crest .
My favourite house, a few propertiespast this point, is Netley built in anunusual adaptation of the californian bungalow style.
further along the cliff top you reach a high charcoal grey fence which is lentell Avenue, go left through the gate to the little pointacross the way, there is another artist trail sign and that is the end of thewalk.
retrace your steps from there.
- Andrea Thomas Portsea is an elegant Victorian sister to Sorrento and is blessed with one of the best bayside beaches, as well as one ofthe best surf beaches on the Peninsula.
the front beach is overlooked by the landmark 1927 Portsea Hotel, while its ocean beach provides the rugged setting for surfing and iron man competitions.
Diving tours and lessons are popular from the Portsea pier.
A small shopping strip provides little more than the essentials, but that s the way locals like it.
Portsea borders Point Nepean - a fascinating labyrinth of tunnelsand fortifications which have guarded Port Phillip Heads since the 1880s andnow protected within a national park.
A Slice of VictoriA S HiStory Sorrento justifiably claims to be thecradle of Victorian settlement.
In 1803 30 years before thefounding of Melbourne Victoria's first European settlement wasestablished here.
Although shortlived because of thelack of fresh water, the fledgling camp of soldiers and convicts atSullivan Bay was the scene of thefirst magistrate's court, first publichospital, first postal service, firstgovernment printing press, first water supply and first wedding, christeningand funeral service.
The first settlement site overlooking SullivanBay includes the graves of theearly settlers.
In 1835, when the Tasmanian founders of Victoria brought their flocks across Bass Strait in search of new pastures they were greeted by a wild white man William Buckley - convict escapee from the original Sullivan Bay Settlement who hadlived throughout the interveningdecades with his Aboriginal friendsand family in thewestern area of Port Phillip.
Folklore surrounding William Buckley has become legendon the Morningtonand Bellarine Peninsulas but Sorrento's more illustrious rise to fame as a seaside escape forMelbourne's rich and famous since the 1870s has been captured in the town's Nepean Historical Museum andHeritage Gallery.
George Coppin, the 'Father of Sorrento', led a colourful life including stints as an actor, parliamentarian and entrepreneur, but it was his recognition and subsequent promotion of the special atmosphere of Sorrento that shot it to prominence as Victoria's most fashionable seaside resort during the late 19th century.
By the 1890s numerous guest houses, hotels and public buildings had beenbuilt from the high quality limestone of the district.
Coppin's legacy remains in the elegant buildings that grace themain street and headlands of the bay foreshore and it is argued that Sorrento itself is a living museum to its earlylimestone architecture.
www.visitor.com.au 113 1 04 14 10 50 PM