Torquay
Postcode: 3228
Torquay is a township in Victoria, Australia, which faces Bass Strait, 21 km. south of Geelong and is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. It is bordered on the west by Spring Creek and its coastal features include Point Danger and Zeally Bay. At the 2001 census, Torquay had a population of 7,943.
The Torquay area is famous for its surf beaches, with Jan Juc and the world famous Bells Beach located on the town’s south-eastern outskirts. It was home to the popular Offshore Festival in the late 1990s.
Many of the world’s most famous surf companies have their home in Torquay, including Rip Curl, Piping Hot and Quiksilver- all of which make up part of the Surf Coast Plaza, which provides shopping and eating, as well as the Surfworld Museum. The town is also home to Tiger Moth World, a large joyflight operation.
Torquay’s population usually triples in the period January to the end of February, when the school holidays end.
Torquay’s local schools are Torquay Primary School and St. Therese Catholic Primary. Until 2008 (By then at Torquay Primary School would have expanded to a Prep-9 school)The P-9 is almost ready to be constructed on the same location as the current school. Torquay has grown a lot over the past 8 years and is still in the progress of growing, developments such as “The Sands” are mulitplying around the township. Its landmarks include Bells Beach, a popular surfing spot for professional surfers.
In 1891 the Joseph H. Scammell sailing ship struck the reef near point danger in Torquay and subsequently became wedged on the reef and as a result the ship broke up in the heavy seas. The cargo of the Scammell was washed onto the beach of torquay and was looted, the anchors of the Scammell are still on display at the torquay front beach and the torquay boat ramp.