Why the Bellarine Peninsula is the hot new escape for wealthy Melburnians

When Lyndsay Sharp left Geelong in the 1980s for university and the bright city lights of Melbourne she thought she would never go back.

Fast forward to 1994 and Lyndsay found herself house hunting in Barwon Heads after her accountant husband David secured a job in Geelong.

While the couple raised a family of three children, who grew up “loving the sea and space”, the much-loved television drama SeaChange, which was largely filmed in Barwon Heads, aired across the nation, wrapping up in 2001.

In the years that followed, the peninsula’s popularity with real-life sea-changers grew and Lyndsay and David recognised that the region offered plenty of untapped potential for the hospitality and leisure markets.

In 2007 the Sharps bought the Leura Park Estate winery at Curlewis, and in 2010 added Bellarine’s Kilgour Estate Winery which was transformed into the popular Jack Rabbit Vineyard, offering contemporary fine dining, casual cafe-style dining and a cellar door.

They’ve since created the Flying Brick Cider Co. producing three lines of cider in Wallington, and bought and redeveloped the Curlewis Golf Club, which now offers a driving range, mini-golf and XGolf simulators.

The Sharps’ growing portfolio of businesses has matched the peninsula’s own growth curve.

“It’s changed phenomenally,” says Lyndsay. “I think it’s just starting to really find its new mojo.

“It’s no longer an industrial area, it’s well and truly shaken off its tag of being a sleepy hollow and is now a burgeoning cosmopolitan city of innovation, attracting great talent to the area.”

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Local agent Levi Turner of Bellarine Property says buyers that once focused on the Mornington Peninsula, including retirees, commuters and holiday home hunters, are now turning west.

“The Mornington Peninsula is getting so busy now, the Bellarine Peninsula is much quieter and you’ve still got the wineries, restaurants, beaches and a lot of small towns to explore,” he says.

Lyndsay agrees.

“The biggest difference in Bellarine is that there’s close to 100 per cent chance you’re dealing with the business owners when you’re out and about,” she says.

“There are some pretty slick ventures going on here but we’ve retained that community charm and I think that’s part of the attraction.”

Lyndsay says the locals are the region’s biggest ambassadors.

“They’ll bring friends from out of town and show them what’s on offer down here. The Bellarine Peninsula is very much having its well-deserved day in the sun.”

Buying in

The Copper House at 15 Margate Street, Barwon Heads VIC. Photo: Supplied

You may have difficulty dragging the children away from 15 Margate Street in Barwon Heads, even though the river is a three-minute walk away, and Thirteenth Beach just a three-minute drive.

Known as The Copper House, the designer property has lush lawns, a built-in trampoline and a separate studio bunk house for awesome sleepovers.

Adults will appreciate the polished concrete floors, soaring ceilings and entertainer’s kitchen.

It’s currently being shopped by Bellarine Property with a guide of $2.7 million to $2.97 million.