Torquay
vic 3228

Torquay Location

Torquay is located 104 km southwest of Melbourne. It is recognised as the eastern starting point of the Great Ocean Road.

Torquay's population usually triples between January and the end of February, when the school holidays end; the town also hosts end-of-year Schoolies week celebrations, joined with Lorne, Victoria's most active Schoolies destination.

While at its busiest in the hot summer months, Torquay is a year-round destination offering more than just amazing surf.

History of Torquay

Torquay is situated in Wadawurrung country, which is part of the Kulin nation that surrounds Port Phillip Bay.

From the 1860s, picnickers began to frequent Torquay, originally known as Spring Creek, after the watercourse along its south-western edge, but it was named Puebla in the 1882 Victorian Municipal Directory. James Follett, who settled there in 1871, came from Torquay, the seaside town in Devon, England, and at his suggestion, the name Torquay was officially adopted in 1892. The Post Office opened on 20 August 1894. On 3 April 1908, the Spring Creek bridge was built, connecting the town to Anglesea.

Recent years have seen increased development in the area. With the 'old town' between the highway and the beach almost fully developed, housing spread to Jan Juc, west of Spring Creek, in the 1970s, and new estates opened up to the north of the town after the 1980s.

Schools in Torquay

Schools in Torquay include Torquay Cost Primary School, Torquay College, Lisieux Catholic Primary School, Surf Coast Secondary College, Saint Therese Catholic Primary School, Southern Cross Motessori and Christian College Geelong. There’s also Butterfield House Kindergarten & Day Care.

Shopping & Eating Out in Torquay

Many of the world's most famous surf companies have their home in Torquay, including Rip Curl and Quiksilver- all of which make up part of the Surf Coast Plaza, which provides shopping and eating, as well as the Surf World Museum. A range of surf outlets spread across Torquay as well as retail stores, restaurants and cafes. The popular Ghanda clothing brand originated in Torquay. View the extensive range of places to Eat and Drink on the I Am Torquay website.

Torquay Sporting & Recreation

The Torquay area is famous for its surf beaches. There’s a variety of sports and recreation areas in Torquay, including Torquay Outrigger and Canoe Club, Orungal Court Playground, White’s Beach Picnic, BBQ & Playground, Deep Creek Reserve, Quay Reserve, Pirate Park, Grasstree Park Nature Reserve, Grenville Oval, Torquay Foreshore Reserve, Torquay Sands Gold Course, Banyul-Warri Fields, Rocketship (Quay2 Nautical) Playground, Breamlea Flora and Forna Reserve.

Jan Juc and the world-famous Bells Beach are located on the town's southwest outskirts. Other popular beaches are Point Impossible Beach and Southside Beach.

Stroll along sandy beaches beneath towering cliffs or take fine coast views from vantage points along the Surf Coast Walk. Snorkelling around Point Danger Marine Sanctuary is a great way to see some of the diversity of the area's underwater inhabitants.

Suburbs near Torquay

Anglesea
Armstrong Creek
Bellbrae
Bells Beach
Freshwater Creek
Jan Juc
Paraparap