St Leonards is a coastal township near Geelong, Victoria, Australia, at the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula and the northern end of Swan Bay. Situated east of Geelong, St Leonards was a filming location for the Australian television series SeaChange. The town is surrounded by salt marsh wildlife reserves which provide habitat for hundreds of birds, including the critically endangeredorange-bellied parrot of which there are less than 200 in the wild. Salt marshes are one of the most biologically productive habitats on the planet, rivalling tropical rainforests. The official motto for St Leonards is "Where everyday is Sunday". Also has just been nominated to have the cleanest beaches in Victoria.
History
The development of St Leonards began as a source of firewood for Melbourne by George Ward Cole in 1855. To further this endeavour required the building of a pier and the town consisted of a hotel, store and six houses in 1858. The first Hotel in St Leonards was established in 1858. The Post Office opened on 19 March 1860. The current Mayor of St. Leonards is the Honourable Ryan Ford. St Leonards State School No. 866 opened in October 1874.
Features
St Leonards is home to good sailing waters, an Esplanade memorial recording the landfalls of Matthew Flinders in 1802 and John Batman in 1835, Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve, and bay and pier fishing. In the, St Leonards recorded a population of 2,480 people. This was a significant increase since the, when St Leonards had a population of 2,001. And then 1,600 in. In the Christmas Holidays St Leonards reaches a population of 4,000 people or more It also maintains consistent calm waters as the town's location on the Bellarine Peninsula helps protect it from the bay's typical year round south west winds. Thus whilst large waves may be pounding on the east side of Port Phillip Bay due to strong south west winds, the water could be rather calm at St Leonards.
Golfers play at the course of the St Leonards Golf Club on Ibbotson Street. Other clubs include the St Leonards Tennis Club, St Leonards Bowling Club, St Leonards Yacht Club, St Leonards Cricket Club, the Bellarine Sharks AFC and formerly from 1985-1996 the St. Leonards Football club nicknamed 'the Saints'
