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great interest to beachcombers, and something of a curse, as the beach is a difficult place to swim. The
Merricks Creek Inlet is a tidal creek that flows with the tides of Western Port. About 50 cm below the surface of the sandbed of the creek lies a darker sand that gives off a hydrogen sulphide smell when disturbed. Sand all these beaches is generally fine grain mixed with crushed sea shells. Small reefs exist in a few places and can be seen at low tide, but these are only rocky reefs incapable of supporting coral. At low tide these reefs can make navigation near the beach difficult for watercraft and are clearly marked with buoys. A succession of big storm tides came in on 24 March, 25 March, 22 April, 23 April and 15 June 2011, severely eroding the sand dunes east the Merricks Creek. In 2012, the wooden wall that had fixed that path of the Merricks Creek since 1974, was taken down, as it was deemed unsafe and not adequately performing its job anymore. Starting in July 2012 and finishing in September 2012, a new rock wall was built, to fix the creek on a path straight into Westernport. For the three and a half years the wall has been in place, a noticeable buildup of sand has occurred east of the wall, while considerable erosion has occurred west of the wall. In November 2015, the entrance to the Merricks Creek was filled in with a sand groyne, as a short-term solution to the constant hydrogen sulphide odour caused by the breakdown of sea grasses within the creek. As of June 2016, the sand groyne is still in place, and as such the surrounding beaches have benefitted with the buildup of sand.
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Somers Beach complemented by wooden seawalls and many small wave-breaks that have all slowly succumbed to the waves of the sea. Experts such as marine geomorphologists have assessed the erosion situation, however no definitive explanation can be found as to why the erosion occurs. The most popular theory is that of
Longshore Drift, where successive "waves" of sand pass Somers, with sand build up when such a wave passes, and erosion at other times. A commonly held view is that the man-made channelisation of Merricks Creek has upset the delicate equilibrium of the coastline. In recent years the erosion has slowed and almost stopped, and experts predict it could be due to a major decrease in easterly winds, tending to slow the effects of longshore drift, thus the erosion. An alternative view is that the decrease in rainfall has limited the period when Merricks Creek is flowing into the sea, thus allowing sand build up at the mouth of the creek, which then allows the sand build up to propagate along the beach. Between 2011 and 2015, the beaches of Somers have lost a considerable amount of dunage and sand, seen most evidently west of the Wits End Creek and west of Merricks Creek. These areas have lost up to as much as six to eight metres of dunes in a five-year period. As recently as May 2015, the beach west of Merricks Creek lost three metres of dunes in as little as three days, caused by gale-force winds, large swell and king tides.
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accommodate immigrants) and various parks, gardens and reserves. There are no shopping strips or centres and no supermarkets. The newly refurbished
General Store and cafe has become very popular with both local residents and visitors as a pleasant meeting /social venue for a meal or coffee. It also carries sufficient groceries etc. so that it is almost possible not to have to travel to nearby Balnarring or Hastings for food. However, if other forms of commercial service are required, Balnarring and Hastings are usually the main places to go.
520:, can be seen in the waters of Western Port Bay participating in several races that are held during good sailing conditions, usually on weekends. The tidal inlet of Merricks Creek at low tide is one of the best places around Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula for skiffle boarding, while the South Beach (actually to the east of the main beach) is tucked away behind the belt of foreshore bushland that is Somers Foreshore Reserve, and is enjoyed mainly by local residents, while the main beach, Somers Beach, is home to one of the major
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After much correspondence with the
Education Dept. the Palm Beach School No. 4458 opened 1929. The renaming of the town occurred in 1930. Despite a few very small land subdivisions for housing, Somers has not seen any major development since the 1920s and has retained much of its remnant bush land on the foreshore. Initially as the land had been used for grazing, the estates were bare until local residents led by local store-keeper Ron Stone planted many trees throughout the area.
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At certain times of the year these beaches can be covered with dried seaweed from the extensive marine vegetation under the waters of
Western Port, however when the seaweed is not in season, all of Somers beaches boast clean sand. The South Beach has an intricate system of rock pools, this is both of
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Yet today, the Yacht Club boasts
Seaside views and in 2001 had its roof blown off and severely damaged in a large storm after decades of erosion drew a new coastline almost to the doorstep of the Yacht Club. Seawalls constructed of natural rocks have been strategically placed around the coastline of
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facilities. The waters offshore from Somers, neighbouring
Balnarring and Merricks Beaches, Flinders and Shoreham, and the body of water between the Mornington Peninsula and Philip Island are some of the most ideal and safest regions for sailing of all types in Australia. On most days many sailboats,
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and the suburb is well known for its Koala Walk. The distinctive growl of Koalas can often be heard in the town. Travellers are advised to take care, as koalas frequently cross local roads, and show little road sense. Occasionally echidnas have been seen in the area around The
Promenade. Bushy-tail
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Somers has a
Primary School, a Kindergarten,a caravan park, a General Store ("The Somers General"),a CFA (Country Fire Authority) Fire Station, tennis courts, a cricket ground, The Coolart Wetlands, Lord Somers Camp, the Education Department School Camp (originally built for the RAAF, then used to
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Somers has an interesting history revolving around its Main Beach. Erosion of the beaches around Somers, particularly around the Yacht Club has been a major concern for foreshore communities and residents of
Parklands Avenue and The Promenade over the last few decades. Several decades ago, Somers
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Originally known as Balnarring East, the town was renamed for a popular former Governor of Victoria who set up the local Lord Somers Camp. The subdivision of Somers began in 1925, whilst the Boulevard Cafe & Post Office commenced business in 1927, the address then still being Balnarring East.
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Somers is also home to The Somers Yacht Club which houses a Sea Rescue Facility, who contribute greatly to the safety of Western Port Bay through the use of rescue boats sent out to help capsized skippers and crew, or those in other forms of trouble, whilst the Yacht Club is open.
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Yacht Club was situated next to the beach with a depression (where once the Merricks Creek flowed separating it from the sands of the beach of Westernport Bay. Yachts and sailboats were wheeled and carried over many sand dunes to reach the sandy beaches to launch them to sail.
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499:. Somers' geography slopes gently down towards the water's edge, interrupting line of sight to Mt. Dandenong and as a result, television reception can be difficult when using a small antenna. Local knowledge is advisable for good reception.
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clubs in Western Port, Somers Yacht Club. Walking is also popular in Somers as good quality sealed and unsealed pathways exist along roadsides and in parklands, where walkers enjoy native bush land, wildlife and views of Western Port.
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and ring- tail Possums are commonplace, and can often be seen soon after nightfall, scurrying along powerlines and thus silhouetted against the night sky.
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Somers lies on an area of land on the south-eastern point of the Mornington Peninsula, where to the south, it borders Western Port. The town of
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The coastline of Somers has three distinguishable beaches, South Beach, Somers Beach and the tidal flats of Merricks Creek Inlet.
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can be seen from any beach in Somers in most weather conditions. There are two large sandbars between Somers and
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which host many commercial services used by Somers residents. To the east is the suburb and military base,
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Somers is located in the south-eastern corner of the Mornington Peninsula, on the shores of
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Rock Seawall protecting Somers Yacht Club on Somers Beach.
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2001 Census Tables: 3927 (Postal Area of Usual Residence)
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All Our Somers by Bruce Bennett published January 2000
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It is not unusual in Somers to see some (introduced)
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603:Parks, Gardens and Reserves in Somers:
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507:Somers is perhaps best known for its
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1082:Coastal townships and localities of
44:adding citations to reliable sources
729:Edition 33 2006 (Pages 193 and 194)
537:Tidal Flats of Merricks Creek Inlet
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1280:Coastal towns in Victoria (state)
689:"Somers (Suburbs and Localities)"
591:Koala in the Somers Caravan Park.
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610:Merricks Creek Foreshore Reserve
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1040:Territory divided with another
744:Australian Bureau of Statistics
685:Australian Bureau of Statistics
412:is a small coastal town on the
271:6 km (2.3 sq mi)
31:needs additional citations for
613:Lord Somers Camp Playing Field
607:Coolart Wetlands and Homestead
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1285:Shire of Mornington Peninsula
782:Shire of Mornington Peninsula
434:Shire of Mornington Peninsula
303:Shire of Mornington Peninsula
281:90 km (56 mi) from
287:12 km (7 mi) from
120:Town in Victoria, Australia
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625:Garden and Banksia Squares
1275:Towns in Victoria (state)
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642:List of Melbourne suburbs
430:Central Business District
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338:Localities around Somers:
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622:Somers Foreshore Reserve
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735:Somers Holiday Village
693:2021 Census QuickStats
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647:Mornington Peninsula
414:Mornington Peninsula
177:Location in Victoria
40:improve this article
322:Federal division(s)
310:State electorate(s)
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780:Localities in the
619:R.W. Stone Reserve
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214:38.393°S 145.163°E
55:"Somers, Victoria"
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51:Find sources:
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29:This article
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1290:Western Port
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1084:Western Port
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964:Safety Beach
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881:Cape Schanck
846:Arthurs Seat
811:Mount Martha
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696:. Retrieved
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657:Western Port
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378:Western Port
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233:1,857 (
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96:October 2014
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38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1174:Koo Wee Rup
1134:Coronet Bay
1119:Caldermeade
1114:Blind Bight
886:Capel Sound
871:Blairgowrie
806:Mount Eliza
583:Environment
441:2021 census
259:Postcode(s)
250:Established
235:2021 census
217: /
205:145°09′47″E
192:Coordinates
1269:Categories
1229:Somerville
1199:Pearcedale
1159:Grantville
1144:Crib Point
989:Tootgarook
936:Pearcedale
916:Main Ridge
891:Crib Point
851:Balnarring
821:Somerville
801:Mornington
668:References
518:catamarans
509:yacht club
503:Recreation
497:Balnarring
345:Balnarring
230:Population
202:38°23′35″S
66:newspapers
1234:Tankerton
1204:Point Leo
1189:Monomeith
1179:Lang Lang
1129:Corinella
1025:Point Leo
931:Moorooduc
570:Community
463:Geography
426:Australia
418:Melbourne
283:Melbourne
1239:Tooradin
1219:Shoreham
1214:San Remo
1194:Newhaven
1164:Hastings
1154:Flinders
1088:Victoria
1015:Merricks
1008:Locality
979:Sorrento
969:Shoreham
949:Red Hill
906:Flinders
796:Hastings
630:See also
485:Hastings
422:Victoria
362:Merricks
327:Flinders
289:Hastings
276:Location
132:Victoria
1254:Warneet
1249:Ventnor
1149:Dalmore
1109:Bittern
994:Tuerong
944:Portsea
896:Dromana
866:Bittern
816:Rosebud
698:12 July
549:Erosion
529:Beaches
516:mainly
513:sailing
481:Bittern
454:History
350:Bittern
80:scholar
1224:Somers
974:Somers
921:McCrae
901:Fingal
861:Baxter
727:Melway
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597:koalas
410:Somers
366:Somers
315:Nepean
298:LGA(s)
170:Somers
127:Somers
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53:
1244:Tyabb
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