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Corinella

An early British settlement in 1826. A French vessel under Dumont d'Urville examined Westernport, arousing apprehensions about French colonization , explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell,  gave a  favorable report of the Westernport district. On the basis of their comments Governor Darling decided to forestall any  French plans by establishing a military and agricultural settlement at Westernport. Captain Wright  with troops, 21 convicts and William Hovell. Wright established a small military settlement at the present-day site of Rhyll on the north coast of Phillip Island and called it Fort Dumaresq. However, fresh water proved a problem so they moved to Corinella which was called Settlement Point.

Owing to poor soil and lack of fresh water, coupled with the absence of any Frenchmen, led to the abandonment of the Westernport settlements in 1828. The buildings were incinerated to prevent their usage by escapee convicts.  A memorial cairn in Jamieson St marks the site of the original settlement.

Another monument, at the end of Smythe St, commemorates Paul Edmund de Strzelecki who passed by Westernport in 1840