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Somers
Victoria

Sunset at Somers
Population: 1345 (2006)[1]
Established: 1925
Postcode: 3927
Area: 6 km² (2. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Postcodes are used in Australia for the purposes of sorting and directing Mail. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 3 sq mi)
Property Value: AUD $356,000 [2]
Location:
LGA: Shire of Mornington Peninsula
State District: Hastings
Federal Division: Flinders
Localities around Somers:
Balnarring Bittern HMAS Cerberus
Somers
Western Port

Somers is a small town approximately 72 km south east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the south eastern corner of the Mornington Peninsula on Western Port Bay. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Hastings is a town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. There are 79 Local Government Areas in the Australian state of Victoria. The Shire of Mornington Peninsula is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. State Electoral District is a term used to refer to an electorate within the Lower House or Legislative The Electoral district of Hastings is an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. The Australian House of Representatives is elected from 150 single-member districts called Divisions. The Division of Flinders is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. Balnarring is a town in Victoria, Australia, located in the southeastern Mornington Peninsula about halfway between Hastings and Flinders Bittern is a small country town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. HMVS Cerberus HMAS Cerberus is a Royal Australian Navy training establishment located at Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Western Port, sometimes referred to as Western Port Bay, is an inlet on the southern coast of Australia from Bass Strait and the Pacific Ocean Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Mornington Peninsula is a Peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, surrounded by Port Phillip, Western Western Port, sometimes referred to as Western Port Bay, is an inlet on the southern coast of Australia from Bass Strait and the Pacific Ocean Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. The Shire of Mornington Peninsula is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia.

Orginally known as Balnarring East, the areas was renamed after a popular former Governor of Victoria who setup the local Lord Somers Camp. Lord Somers Camp, or "Big Camp" as it is termed by Powerhouse is an annual week-long leadership camp held in Somers, Victoria, Australia. The subdivision of Somers began in 1925, the same year the Somers Primary School was opened. The present general store and post office opened in 1927.

Contents

Geography

To the south of Somers lies Western Port more commonly known as Western Port Bay. Western Port, sometimes referred to as Western Port Bay, is an inlet on the southern coast of Australia from Bass Strait and the Pacific Ocean The town of Cowes on Phillip Island can be seen from any beach in Somers in all weather. Cowes is the main township on Phillip Island in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Phillip Island is located about 140km away from Melbourne Named after Governor Arthur Phillip, Phillip Island in Victoria

To the north lies extensive cleared lands for agriculture. Further north lie the suburbs of Bittern and Hastings which contain many commercial services used by Somers residents. Bittern is a small country town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Hastings is a town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia.

To the east is the suburb and military base, HMAS Cerberus. HMVS Cerberus HMAS Cerberus is a Royal Australian Navy training establishment located at Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Its compound bordering Somers is entirely bushland and used for training exercises. Where the base meets Somers at its coastline, beaches are closed and the land consists mainly of bushy coastal forests.

To the west, separated from the Lord Somers Camp and The Coolart Wetlands, lies the locality of Balnarring. Lord Somers Camp, or "Big Camp" as it is termed by Powerhouse is an annual week-long leadership camp held in Somers, Victoria, Australia. Balnarring is a town in Victoria, Australia, located in the southeastern Mornington Peninsula about halfway between Hastings and Flinders

Somers' geography tends slowly towards the water's edge, interrupting line of sight to Mt. Dandenong and as a result, television reception can be difficult when using a small antenna. Local knowledge is advisable for good reception.

Recreation

The tidal inlet of Merrick's Creek at low tide is one of the best places in Melbourne to skiffle board, while the South Beach (actually to the east of the main beach) is tucked away behind the belt of foreshore bushland that is Somers Foreshore Reserve, and is enjoyed mainly by local residents, while the main beach, Somers Beach, is home to one of the major yacht clubs in Western Port Bay, Somers Yacht Club. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 A yacht is a recreational boat It designates two rather different classes of Watercraft, sailing and power yachts

Sailing around the waters of Somers and neighbouring Balnarring and Merricks Beaches, Flinders and Shoreham, and the body of water between the Mornington Peninsula and Philip Island is some of the best and safest regions for sailing of all types in Australia. Most days many sailboats, mainly catamarans, can be seen in the waters of Western Port Bay participating in several races that are held during good sailing conditions.

Beaches

Tidal Flats of Merricks Creek Inlet.
Tidal Flats of Merricks Creek Inlet.

The coastline of Somers is home to 3 distinguishable beaches:

At certain times of the year are covered with dried seaweed from the extensive marine vegetation of westernport Bay, however, when the seaweed is not in season, all of Somers beaches boast clean sand.

The South Beach has an intricate system of rock pools. This is both of great interest to beachcombers, and something of a curse, as the beach is a difficult place to swim.

The Merricks Creek Inlet is a tidal creek that flows with the tides of Western Port. About 50cm below the surface of the sandbed of the creek lies a darker sand that gives off a hydrogen sulphide smell when disturbed.

Sand on Somers Beaches is generally fine grain mixed with crushed sea shells. Small reefs exist in a few places and can be seen at low tide but these are only rocky reefs incapable of supporting coral.

Erosion

Somers has an interesting history revolving around its Main Beach. Erosion of the beaches around Somers, particularly around the Yacht Club has been a major concern for foreshore communities and residents of Parklands Avenue and The Promenade over the last few decades. Several decades ago, Somers Yacht Club was situated next to the beach with a small creek separating it from the sands of the beach of Westernport Bay. Yachts and sailboats were wheeled and carried over many sand dunes and over the small tidal creek to reach the sandy beaches to launch them to sail.

Rock Seawall protecting Somers Yacht Club on Somers Beach.
Rock Seawall protecting Somers Yacht Club on Somers Beach.

Yet today, the Yacht Club boasts Seaside views and as recently as 5 to 10 years ago had its roof blown off and severely damaged in a large storm after decades of erosion drew a new coastline almost to the doorstep of the Yacht Club. Seawalls constructed of natural rocks have been strategically placed around the coastline of Somers Beach complemented by wooden seawalls and many small wave-breaks that have all slowly succumbed to the waves of the sea. Experts such as marine geomorphologists have assessed the erosion situation, however, no definitive explanation can be found as to why the erosion occurs. The most popular theory is that of Longshore Drift, where successive "waves" of sand pass Somers, with sand build up when such a wave passes, and erosion at other times. A commonly held view is that the man-made channelisation of Merricks Creek has upset the delicate equilibrium of the coastline. In recent years the erosion has slowed and almost stopped, and experts predict it could be due to a major decrease in easterly winds, tending to slow the effects of longshore drift, thus the erosion. An alternative view is that the decrease in rainfall has limited the period when Merricks Creek is flowing into the sea, thus allowing sand build up at the mouth of the creek, which then allows the sand build up to propagate along the beach.

Community

Somers has a Primary School, a caravan park, a General Store ("The Store"), the local CFA (Country Fire Authority), some tennis courts and bowling greens, The Coolart Wetlands and Lord Somers Camp, and various parks, gardens and reserves. There are no shopping strips or centres and no supermarkets. The General Store is almost a small supermarket and it is almost possible to not have to travel to nearby Balnarring or Hastings for food. However, if other forms of commercial service are required, Balnaring and Hastings are usually the main place to go.

Somers is also home to The Somers Yacht Club which houses the WSC Marine Rescue Facility, who contribute greatly to the safety of Western Port Bay through the use of crash boats sent out to help capsized skippers and crew, or those in other forms of trouble.

Environment

Koala in the Somers Caravan Park.
Koala in the Somers Caravan Park.

It is not unusual in Somers to see many koalas and the suburb is well known for its Koala Walk in the Foreshore Reserve. The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus is a thickset Arboreal Marsupial herbivore native to Australia, and the only extant The distinctive growl of Koalas can be heard nearly every night from most places of residence. Travellers are advised to take care, as koalas frequently cross local roads, and are very accustomed to the sound of cars. Occasionally echidnas have been seen in the area around The Promenade. Possums are commonplace, and can often be seen soon after nightfall, scurrying along powerlines and thus silouetted against the night sky.

Parks, Gardens and Reserves in Somers:

Development and change

Currently, a venture by Simmscorp is underway in the Somers Caravan Park. New owners have begun advertising land and land/unit packages from $35,000. The Caravan Park is full mostly of permanent onsite caravans and annexes, however, the new ownership has seen many long time residents of the park choose to leave as the sites are sold for construction of Units and Villas including a 2-story version of a small Villa/Unit. Many residents of the park are unable to afford the new annual rates for rent of a site, and so are forced to leave.

The Somers Residents Association has put forward a proposal to modify access routes around the general store. This proposal outlines the issues of access to the store and offers two solutions. The first diverts the traffic away from the store but instead directs it past the kindergarten. The second option moves the store into Somers parkland. residents have been requested to respond <r≈outlining their support for either proposal. [3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). This is a list of Municipalities and their Suburbs and townships in the greater Metropolitan area of Melbourne, in the State of Victoria Phillip Island is located about 140km away from Melbourne Named after Governor Arthur Phillip, Phillip Island in Victoria A catamaran (From Tamil 'kattumaram' is a type of Multihulled Boat or Ship consisting of two hulls or vakas joined by some Longshore drift (sometimes known as shore drift, LSD or littoral drift) is a geological process by which Sediments such as sand Tourism in Melbourne, Australia, is an important industry with approximately 7 The Australian Bureau of Statistics ( ABS) is Australia 's national statistical agency. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Somers (State Suburb). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-10-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.
  2. ^ Somers, accessed 27 November 2006
  3. ^ Somers Residents Association Somers Planning Strategy 2008
A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Melway (also commonly referred to as Melways or The Melways) is the most ubiquitous Street directory for Melbourne, Australia
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