History & heritage

Discover the tall tales of Victoria's first European settlement, and pay your respects to Phillip Island's first inhabitants, the Bunurong tribe of Western Port.

Phillip Island history
You'll see lots of references to George Bass around the island. The explorer was the first European to visit Western Port on 5 January 1798 as he made his way down the coast in a whaleboat. Hot on his heels were the sealers who harvested fur seals on the Bass Strait islands and Seal Rocks near the Nobbies.

Call in to the Heritage Centre and Museum in Cowes to see exhibitions and video of the history and wildlife of the island. For more recent history, honour Australian servicemen and women and see a Huey Cobra helicopter at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum.

Victoria's first European settlement
Explore historic Churchill Island, discovered in 1798 and the site of Victoria's first European settlement. Visit the homestead and working farm buildings for a glimpse of early island life, walk through the traditional herb and flower gardens and orchard and see ranger demonstrations of traditional farming techniques.