Sorrento and its Attractions

Continental Hotel

Renowned as one of the best run seaside hotels during the Bensilum period, the Continental Hotel is said to be a a very significant building in the Sorrento landscape and to this day is the only four storey limestone structure in the Southern Hemisphere. The Continental Hotel that was built in 1875 by Ocean Amphitheatre Co Ltd of which George Coppin was the Managing Director then, is located on the shores of Port Phillip on the Mornington Peninsula, about one and a half hours south of Melbourne. It is considered to be a largely upper-class, seaside resort area, but is also a quiet seaside township in the off-peak months of the year.

Located on a thin strip of land between Port Phillip and Bass Strait, Sorrento was the site of Victoria’s first European settlement in 1803 and is also of a historical importance because of its association with George Coppin whose endeavours were of major contribution to the formation of Sorrento as a major resort town. It is close to the historic Point Nepean and major surf and bayside beaches. In the town proper, there are Craft markets at Sorrento Primary School. The hotel in its early days was also a ‘General Store’.

History

In the year 1803, 30 years before Melbourne has been founded, Sullivan Bay in Sorrento became the place of Victoria’s first European settlement. Due to insufficient source of fresh water, the settlement was short lived and later on moved to Hobart in Tasmania. Victoria’s first magistrates’ court, public hospital, postal service and government printing office were built in Sorrento. The first Victorian wedding, christening and funeral servies were held at Sullivans Bay. The first settlement site overlooking Sullivans Bay includes graves were believed to be of the first settlers. Sorrento Post Office was opened on the 10th day of January, in 1871. A horse and steam powered tram which ran between the foreshore and the back beach opened in 1890 but then closed in 1919.

Today

Sorrento Hotel

The town has a numberous grand historic homes and hotels which date back to the 1860s, almost all of which have been made with local limestone. The Mechanics’ Institute, Sorrento was built in 1877 using local limestone and the building, which is now classified by the National Trust of Australia, houses the Nepean Historical Society’s museum. Built in 1871, the historic limestone building of Sorrento Hotel is really an amazing architectural icon.

Being located in the heart of Victoria's first settlement site in Sorrento, Sorrento Hotel offers captivating views across scenic Port Phillip Bay and surrounding parklands, it is indeed proud to be the oldest commercial building in Sorrento. The magnificent and elegant Hotel building complete with tower is a community icon, flaunting splendid original locally cut limestone. Built by John Farnsworth in 1872 for P. J. Martin, the owner of the Australian Brewery, it was intended to be a Hotel and for over 150 years has been run as one offering an earthy interior that is coupled with sophisticated and contemporary luxury.

Sorrento has also regular bus routes and a vehicular ferry, Peninsula Searoad Transport, which operate hourly between Sorrento and Queenscliff. On the other hand, the Sorrento Park, which was established in 1870, contains a variety of trees, including an Aleppo Pine grown from the seed of the Lone Pine of Gallipoli.

Sport

It has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League who have won the flag in 2008. The Sorrento Cricket Club, led by former Melbourne CC player Nic Davern, competes in the Provincial Division of the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association, having won the District Division for two consecutive years in 2005 and 2006. Golfers play at the course of the Sorrento Golf Club on Langford Road.

Welcome to Sorrento

Sorrento Village

The Sorrento Village shopping centre provides all the appealing quality and atmosphere of a historical seaside village with the sophistication & style of a city shopping complex. Sorrento has a bountiful remarkable history which is believed to be the first European settlement in Victoria discovered in 1803 and later blossomed as a tourist destination for the rich and famous by George Coppin from the 1870’s. It is in this period that some of the magnificent limestone buildings were built in the entire town.

Many shops, stores and services with a mixture of both unique retailers and chain stores could be found along the main street shopping complex of Ocean Beach Rd. Different businesses do exist like fashion boutiques, restaurants and cafes, hotels, accommodation venues, antiques, original galleries & interiors, health, beauty and wellness centres, fresh food and liquor outlets, a cinema, and so much more, so whether you’re staying for a day, a night or a week, you will surely have a unique shopping experience in Sorrento Village.

Car Parking

Most of the car parking that can be found in Sorrento area is free and there are more than just a number of car parks and locations. The largest all day parking area is in Morce Ave behind the Ocean Beach Rd shops where there are 240 spaces. Most of the parking along Ocean Beach Rd is a 2-hour drive or less, and there are 70 car spaces at the ferry terminal which are freely available except between November and April. There are also 20 spaces behind the fire station on Kerferd Rd which can be used the whole day. The Village Map will indicate the location of Sorrento car parks.

Transport

Transport Ferry

Buses travel from Frankston to Portsea every 45 minutes weekdays starting from 5:20 in the morning until 11:00 in the evening. The trip takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. On weekends, buses run every 1 hour and 15 minutes from Portsea to Frankston starting at 8:20am to 8:40pm. Less routes operate outside of these times. Kindly check bus timetables and schedules before travelling. For the latest bus timetable visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au.

The trip bound from Sorrento to Queenscliff car and passenger ferry leaves from the Sorrento terminal on an hourly basis, every hour from 7am to 6pm, and until 7pm from December 26 to end of daylight savings.

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