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Sorrento - Portsea Artists' Trail Drive

For many years the picturesque Mornington Peninsula has been an inspiration to a number of famous artists. The Sorrento-Portsea Artists’ Trail brings the works created by these artists to life. The Trail covers the southern most tip of the Mornington Peninsula and is accessed by car and then by foot. The Trail takes you to the area where the artist would have sat to paint. You can walk right up to reproductions of the paintings displayed on stands located as close as possible to the original scene viewed by the artist.

On the Port Phillip side the breathtaking views extend along the beaches and sheltered coastline then expand across the water to the Bellarine Peninsula, Melbourne and Mount Dandenong. This contrasts with the rugged splendor of Bass Strait and the Mornington Peninsula National Park on the ocean beach side.

The Trail includes a section along the Portsea clifftops that is also known as Millionaires Walk. This stunning cliff top walk between Point King Road and Lentell Avenue, also has historic significance as it was there that the Union Jack was first used to claim possession of Australia.

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3236 Point Nepean Road
Sorrento Victoria 3943

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Stop One: "Sorrento" 1942 by Albert Tucker (1914 - 1999), Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery Collection. From the Websters Corner car park opposite St Pauls Road, proceed by foot to the left along the grassed area past the toilet block to the beach. The stand is about 100m along the right hand side. Stop Two: "Sorrento Foreshore with Buildings" 1904 by Roland Clark (active in Australia 1890-1905), Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery Collection. The stand is located beside the toilet block between the entrance to the Sorrento Pier and the rotunda. Street parking is available. Stop Three: "Koonya, Continental & Sorrento Hotels" 1904 by Roland Clark (active in Australia 1890-1905), Nepean Historical Society Collection. Walk along the left hand side of the Sorrento Pier, all the way to the end where the pier becomes a wooden structure. The stand is located on the left hand section and faces back towards the beach.

Stop Four: "View from Munstead Wood" c1947 by Ray Hodgkinson (1911 - 1993), Private Collection. The stand is located directly at the end of Lentell Avenue. Very minimal parking is available in Lentell Avenue. The stand can also be accessed via a short walk along the cliff tops from Point King Road (where there is more parking available). Stop Five: "Point King" 1920 by Sir Arthur Streeton (1867 - 1943), Private Collection. This stand is also easily accessed via a short walk along the cliff tops from Point King Road. Limited parking is available at the end of Point King Road. Walk past the path on the left to stands 6 and 7. Go a further 200m through several gates. This stand is on teh point, infront of the houses. Stop Six: "Laycock's Jetty" 1597 by Arthur Boyd (1920 - 1999), Private Collection. Proceed to the end of Point King Road (limited parking available), and walk to the right about 100m. Take the left hand fork to the Point King monument. The stand is on the right, next to stand 7. Stop Seven: "Sorrento from Point King" 1921 by Sir Arthur Streeton (1867 - 1943), Private Collection. This stand is alongside stand 6.

"View from Barrett's Point, Portsea" 1921 by Sir Arthur Streeton (1867 - 1943), University of Adelaide Visual Arts Collection. Drive towards the beach beach to the bottom of Franklin Road in Portsea (parking is available). Walk up the path to the right for around 100 metres, then take the left fork. This stand is at the end.

"Portsea: 1922 by Penleigh Boyd (1890 - 1923), Private Collection. Walk down The Cutting (opposite Delgany Avenue, parking is available) and then walk around 100 metres to the right, along the beach in front of the bathing boxes. The stand is at the end of the retaining wall. Note: access is not possible from Portsea Pier

Stop Ten: "Portsea" 1921 by Penleigh Boyd (1890 - 1923), Private Collection. This stand is at Police Point. Follow the entrance road into Point Nepean National Park and turn left into the first car park. Walk back up to the entrance of Police Park (opposite the roundabout). Walk down the path and around to the right about 200m. The stand is by the fence overlooking Portsea Front Beach. Stop Eleven: "Quarantine Boundary, Portsea" 1957 by John Perceval (1923 - 2000), Australian National University Collection. From the car park at the end of London Bridge Road, take the sealed walking track to the London Bridge Lookout. The stand is at the end, overlooking London Bridge towards Point Nepean.

Stop Twelve: "Ocean Beach Sorrento" 1871 by Isaac Whitehead (1819 - 1883) by Private Collection. Park in the small car parking area on the left hand side at the top of the hill at the entry to the Sorrento Back Beach (alternatively park in the lower car park and walk back up the hill). Walk along the Coppins Walking track path to the left towards Blairgowrie. the stand is about 100 metres along the right. Stop Thirteen: "At Sorrento" 1915 by Emanuel Phillips Fox (1865 - 1915), Private Collection. Park at the end of St Pauls Road. Walk up hill approximately 200 metres to the left towards Diamond Bay. Take the right hand fork in the path towards Jubilee Point. The stand is on the right hand side. Stop Fourteen: "Ocean Beach Sorrento" 1957 by John Perceval (1923 - 2000), National Gallery of Victoria Collection. From the Diamond Bay car park, walk up the sealed path to the top of the steps leading down towards the beach. This stand is to the right.