The indigenous Bengalat Clan of Wathaurung people are known to have lived around Barwon Heads as they have lived in much of the region around Geelong. The name “Barwon” actually derives from their language; “Barra Warre N Yallok” which in translation is, “the great river which flows from the uplands (or Otways) to the sea”. The Wathaurung people would have made use of the rich bird life and sea life which was readily available in the area.
There are records of Europeans settling on the Ocean Grove side of the river around 1854, but the Barwon Heads side didn’t see settlement until about 1875 when people settled on the western side of the river for fishing.
In the 1890’s an influx of hunters started to visit Lake Connewarre for ducks and other native birds, which saw the town swell. The fishing village also started to grow and by the 1920’s the township had good facilities like boarding houses, school, golf course and of course a pub.
The famous bridge across the Barwon River linking Ocean Grove was built in 1927, it has had several overhauls in its 90 years but it looks like it time is just about up with plans for a new bridge spanning the river progressing much to the disappointment of the many locals who have fought hard to save the structure.
The waters around the heads have been very dangerous over the years, the giant limestone bluff not only stands proudly at the mouth of the river it extends along a large reef into the sea and has caused many devastating shipping accidents over the years. There are recordings of 12 ships between 1853 and 1890 being destroyed. One of the worst was the Earl of Charemont which was lost on the rocks in 1853. In 1940 a cargo ship called the Orungal also run aground and burnt and there are reports of its boilers still being seen off the bluff at low tide.
Barwon Heads has remained one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Geelong region for nearly 100 years and with so much to offer with its beautiful natural assets and quaint town it will remain a favourite for many years to come.
