Frankston

On the eastern shores of Port Phillip and regarded as “the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula”, the city of Frankston is a popular destination one hour from Melbourne and the tourist hotspots of Phillip Island, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. Prior to settlement in 1835, the area was primarily home to the Mayone-bulluk clan from the Bunurong tribe of the Kulin nation. Frankston is made up of several suburbs including Seaford, Carrum Downs, Langwarrin, Karingal, Sandhurst and Skye.

Frankston Beach has been popular since the 1880s and remains among the most visited beaches in Victoria. It sits at the southern end of a nine-kilometre stretch of coastline running north to the Patterson River at Callum. Skybus Stadium at Frankston Park is home to the Frankston Football Club and was also the site of Australia’s first ever international Scout Jamboree in 1935. This has the distinction of being the only Jamboree in Australia attended by its founder Lord Baden Powell. In fact, a number of streets and landmarks bear the Baden-Powell name.

Housing ranges from original late-Victorian and Federation homes to new builds, apartments, terraces and townhouses. Frankston City Council provides a number of initiatives for environmental sustainability and there are many public parks, reserves and gardens such as George Pentland Botanical Gardens in Williams Street. Oliver’s Hill Lookout, Ballam Park Homestead, Brialyn Boathouse Gallery and the Kananook Walking Trail are among some of the area’s other most notable attractions.

Bayside in the city centre is Frankston’s main shopping precinct. It spans several streets with speciality retailers, major department stores, cafes, dining and entertainment. The city is also well serviced by public transport, with Frankston Station and bus depot located in the heart of the city on Young Street.