06/10/2026
🌊 THROWBACK TUESDAY – BREAMLEA 🌊
Ever wondered about the history behind the place we call home? Breamlea has a fascinating story that stretches back well before the town we know today!
The area now known as Breamlea was an important locality of the Monmart clan of the Wadawurrung people, who knew the area as ‘Maamaart’. It was also a semi-permanent settlement of William Buckley, while the sandy coastal hills around Thompson’s (Bream) Creek remained largely untouched by European settlement, apart from seasonal summer camping.
📍 From Picnic Point to Breamlea
In the 1860s, the area was known as Picnic Point, before later becoming known as Bancoora following the SS Bancoora running aground there in 1891. By 1908, the area was being referred to as Bream Creek.
Then, in 1941, the name was officially changed from Bream Creek to Breamlea to avoid confusion with another Bream Creek in Australia.
That same year, Breamlea was surveyed and proclaimed a town, with 120 allotments created. Streets were laid out and named after European pioneers and regular holidaymakers, including Blyth, Challis, Vagg and Whittington. Most of the lots were sold by 1942, marking the beginning of the Breamlea community we know today.
🏫 The Breamlea Hall
A recreation and public hall reserve was also established in 1942, with a hall eventually built on the site. Interestingly, the hall later served as a school between 1952 and 1955!
And, of course, the history of Breamlea wouldn’t be complete without the SS Bancoora, which ran aground at Bream Creek in 1891 — a name that still lives on in our community today. 🚢🌊
📸 SS Bancoora at Bream Creek [Breamlea], 1891
Source: Geelong Heritage Centre
