Hastings

Postcode: 3915

Hastings is a town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. It is served by Hastings railway station on the Stony Point greater-metropolitan line. It is situated on an inlet on Western Port, a major port and important environmental area. Hastings has multiple marinas and is home to many recreational boating activities.

Hastings is thought to be named after after a fishing village in England or the British imperial administrator Warren Hastings. Previously known as King’s Creek and Star Point, its Post Office opened on 4 February 1863.

Settlement of the area dates from the 1840s, with fishing being the main industry. Growth took place from the 1850s into the 1870s as the township developed. Expansion continued in the late 1880s and 1890s, aided by the construction of the railway line and the establishment of many orchards. Significant residential development occurred during the 1960s and 1970s, spurred by industrial growth and public housing construction. Growth began to slow from the 1980s. The population has increased since the early 1990s, a result of new dwellings being added to the area.

Hastings only has one small beach, most of the coastline being mudflats. The town also features several large coastline reserves, some of which allow pet dogs to roam leash-free.

The town is located on a crescent-shaped bay opening onto Western Port Bay. It is probably the safest small boat harbour on Western Port, as it is easily accessible, and protected from prevailing winds. Therefore much of the recreation centres around boating or fishing at the local marina and yacht club.

The mudflats support significant mangrove forests, these being the most southerly species of mangrove in the world. Jacks Beach Walk takes hikers through and over the mangroves via a series of boardwalks. The mangrove forests are natural fish hatcheries, important for the maintenance of good fish populations in the bay. A significant area of Western Port Bay north of Hastings has been declared a Marine National Park.

The area around the pier is popular with sight-seers, there being a waterfront cafe, and many yachts moored nearby. Pelicans can normally be seen in this area, and the pelicans are fed daily by local fishermen.

Other nearby attractions include the Tyabb antiques centre and Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park.

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