Somers, Victoria

Somers Victoria
Sunset at Somers
Population	1345 (2006)
• Density
Established	1925
Postcode(s)	3927
Area	6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Location	72 km (45 mi) from Melbourne 12 km (7 mi) from Hastings
LGA(s)	Shire of Mornington Peninsula
State electorate(s)	Hastings
Federal division(s)	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. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.

History

Originally known as Balnarring East, the area was renamed for a popular former Governor of Victoria who setup the local Lord Somers Camp. The subdivision of Somers began in 1925.whilst the Boulevard Cafe & Post Office commenced business in 1927, the address then still being Balnarring East. After much correspondence with the Education Dept. the Palm Beach School No.4458 opened 1929. The renaming of the town occurred in 1930. Despite a few very small land subdivisions for housing, Somers has not seen any major development since the 1920s and has retained much of its remnant bush land on the foreshore. Initially as the land had been used for grazing the estates were bare until local residents led by local store-keeper Ron Stone planted many trees throughout the area.

Geography

Somers lies on an area of land on the south eastern point of the Mornington Peninsula, where to the south, it borders Western Port. The town of Cowes on Phillip Island can be seen from any beach in Somers in most weather conditions. To the north, inland, lies extensively cleared lands used for agriculture. Further north lie the suburbs of Bittern and Hastings which host many commercial services used by Somers residents. To the east is the suburb and military base, HMAS Cerberus. 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. Somers' geography slopes gently down 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

Somers is perhaps best known for its yacht club and sailing facilities. The waters off shore from Somers, neighboring Balnarring & Merricks Beaches, Flinders & Shoreham, and the body of water between the Mornington Peninsula and Philip Island are some of the most ideal and safest regions for sailing of all types in Australia. On 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, usually on weekends. The tidal inlet of Merrick's Creek at low tide is one of the best places around Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula for skiffle boarding, 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, Somers Yacht Club. Walking is also popular in Somers as good quality sealed and unsealed pathways exist along roadsides and in parklands, where walkers enjoy native bush land, wildlife and views of Western Port.

Beaches

Tidal Flats of Merricks Creek Inlet.

The coastline of Somers is home to 3 distinguishable beaches, South Beach, Somers Beach and the tidal flats of Merricks Creek Inlet.

At certain times of the year these beaches can be covered with dried seaweed from the extensive marine vegetation under the waters of Western Port, 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 all these 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. At low tide these reefs can make navigation near the beach difficult for watercraft and are clearly marked with buoys.

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.

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 Somers General Store"), the local CFA (Country Fire Authority), some tennis courts and a cricket ground, The Coolart Wetlands, Lord Somers Camp, the Education Department School Camp (originally built for the RAAF,then used to accomodate immigrants) and various parks, gardens and reserves. There are no shopping strips or centres and no supermarkets. The newly refurbished General Store and cafe has become very popular with both local residents and visitors as a pleasant meeting /social venue for a meal or coffee. It also carries sufficient groceries etc so that it is almost possible not to have to travel to nearby Balnarring or Hastings for food. However, if other forms of commercial service are required, Balnarring and Hastings are usually the main places 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

File:Koala somers.JPG

Koala in the Somers Caravan Park.

It is not unusual in Somers to see some (introduced) koalas and the suburb is well known for its Koala Walk. The distinctive growl of Koalas can often be heard in the town. Travellers are advised to take care, as koalas frequently cross local roads, and show little road sense. Occasionally echidnas have been seen in the area around The Promenade. Bushy-tail and ring- tail Possums are commonplace, and can often be seen soon after nightfall, scurrying along powerlines and thus silhouetted against the night sky.

Parks, Gardens and Reserves in Somers:

• Coolart Wetlands and Homestead
• Merricks Creek Foreshore Reserve
• Lord Somers Camp Playing Field
• Koala Reserve
• R.W. Stone Reserve
• Somers Foreshore Reserve
• Garden and Banksia Squares

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 was occupied largely by permanent onsite caravans and annexes, however, the new ownership has seen many long time residents of the park evicted by Simmscorp to pave the way for construction of pre-fabricated units. Park Owner Peter Simitzis has announced his intention to eventually remove all caravans from the park. In addition to evictions, many residents of the park are unable to afford the new annual rates for rent of a site, and so are forced to leave. This has also led to the reduction in the number of camping sites, removing a relatively affordable option for families who used to camp at the park.

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 outlining their support for either proposal. The need for these actions has been negated by the purchase of the store by an owner who totally updated and refurbished it.

See also

• List of Melbourne suburbs
• Mornington Peninsula
• Phillip Island
• Western Port
• Longshore Drift

References

• Melway Edition 33 2006 (Pages 193 and 194)
• Simmscorp Advertising and Land and Packages Brochures (November 2005)
• 2001 Census Tables : 3927 (Postal Area of Usual Residence), Australian Bureau of Statistics, August 4th, 2006, retrieved October 1st, 2006

All Our Somers by Bruce Bennett