Churchill Island is a 50.7-hectare (125.3-acre) island in Western Port, Victoria, Australia. The island is named after John Churchill, Esquire of Dawlish.[1] The island is linked to Phillip Island by a bridge, with Phillip Island itself connected to the mainland via another bridge. Notably, Churchill Island was the site of Victoria’s first European garden and wheat crop.[2] The island plays an important role in the history of Victoria and features a working farm, fully restored cottages from the 1860s, and a homestead dating back to 1872, all accessible to visitors.[3][4] Adjacent to the 670-hectare (1,656-acre)Churchill Island Marine National Park the island is managed by Phillip Island Nature Parks and is listed on the Victorian heritage register.[5]
Long before European arrival, Churchill Island was part of the traditional lands of the Boonwurrung people, specifically the Yallok Bulluk clan. For thousands of years Indigenous people harvested its rich marine resources such as shellfish, fish, small marsupials, and seasonal mutton-birds (short-tailed shearwaters). Ochre deposits on Churchill Island were used for ceremonial body decoration, indicating the island’s cultural significance. Evidence of this long habitation persists in the form of shell middens on the island.[1][4]
European explorers first entered Western Port in the late 18th century. Navigator George Bass sailed into the bay in 1798, becoming the first European to sight Phillip and Churchill Islands. In 1801, Lieutenant James Grant of the schooner Lady Nelson made the earliest European use of Churchill Island. Grant came ashore and cleared a small area of land to plant a variety of crops, including wheat, corn, potatoes, peas, coffee berries, apples, peaches and nectarines given to him for the purpose of creating a garden "for the future benefit of our fellow men be they Countrymen, Europeans or Savages" by John Churchill of Dawlish in Devon, England.[6] This was the first European garden and crop of wheat grown in Victoria.[7] Grant also built a simple blockhouse from local timber, though he stayed only a short time before continuing his survey journey. The island itself was named “Churchill Island” in honour of the seedsman, Churchill, rather than after Grant.[8]
After this brief 1801 experiment, the island saw no permanent European settlement until the mid-19th century. In 1860, farmer Samuel Pickersgill and his family arrived from nearby French Island, becoming the first resident settlers (though they held no title to the land). In 1872, Samuel Amess, a prominent stonemason and former Mayor of Melbourne, purchased Churchill Island as a rural retreat for his family. Amess constructed the substantial Amess House homestead (completed 1872) and various farm outbuildings, many of which remain intact.[1][7] He expanded the gardens, planting exotic species like a Norfolk Island pine (gifted by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller) and introduced new livestock. As a member of the Acclimatisation Society, Amess released game such as rabbits, quail and pheasants, and famously established a fold of shaggy Highland cattle on the island. These Scottish Highland cattle thrived and became a lasting feature of Churchill Island’s farm (their descendants still graze there today). The Amess family era (1872–1920s) saw the island used mainly as a summer home and working farm, managed by hired farmhands while the Amess family visited seasonally.
Following the Amess period, Churchill Island changed hands several times in the early 20th century. In 1936 it was bought by Melbourne dentist Dr. Harry Jenkins, whose family maintained it as a farm and holiday spot. Dr. Jenkins introduced modernisations like a tractor and even built the island’s first bridge to Phillip Island in 1959.[1] By the 1970s the historical importance of Churchill Island was widely recognised. The Victorian Conservation Trust negotiated to acquire the island, and in 1976 Churchill Island was sold to the state of Victoria for preservation. Volunteers and a “Friends of Churchill Island” group helped to maintain and restore the property over the next decades. Extensive restoration has returned the buildings and gardens to their heritage appearance, and a modern concrete bridge replaced the old timber one for reliable access. Remains of stone foundations from two unknown buildings are also preserved on the island.[7]
Today visitors can explore two historic cottages (the Rogers cottage and Amess House), heritage farm structures, and gardens that evoke the island’s 19th-century heyday. Churchill Island’s rich layered history, from Indigenous heritage and first European farming to its preservation as a historic site which offers a tangible connection to Victoria’s early years.[1] Churchill Island and the area around it served as the location for the 1977 Australian film Summerfield.
Events and Activities:
Churchill Island not only offers everyday attractions but also hosts a range of events and activities that enhance its appeal throughout the year. These cater to both tourists and the local community, and they emphasise local produce, culture and education in line with the island’s character. Some key events and programs include:
• Monthly Farmers’ Market: On the first Saturday of each month, Churchill Island’s barnyard and grounds come alive with a bustling community farmers’ market. Stallholders from around the region sell fresh organic produce, artisanal foods, homemade preserves, baked goods, plants and crafts.
• Heritage Farm Demonstrations: In addition to daily farm activities, the island schedules extra demonstrations during weekends, school holidays and public holiday periods. For example, on a given weekend day visitors might follow a program of events: a blacksmithing demo at the forge in the morning, then sheep shearing and cow milking in the early afternoon, followed by working dog and whip-cracking shows . These demonstrations are free with admission and allow for audience participation (children may get to help churn butter or try milking a cow under supervision). Special themed weekends sometimes occur as well – for instance, a heritage gardening day or vintage machinery rally – where volunteers showcase old tractors, steam engines or craft skills. Such interactive activities make a day at Churchill Island both fun and educational.
•Education Programs: For school groups, the island hosts curriculum-aligned educational programs that cover topics like Indigenous culture, early settler life, and sustainability in farming. Students can investigate Churchill Island’s Indigenous heritage and pioneer history through hands-on activities , such as exploring a replica Aboriginal midden, trying farm chores from the 1800s, or learning how crops were grown without modern technology. These programs give children a tangible connection to lessons in history and conservation.
•Seasonal Festivals and Events: Churchill Island is a venue for several special events throughout the year. In summer, it plays host to the annual Ocean Sounds music festival, an all-day outdoor concert featuring live bands, local wine and food stalls, and sunset views over the bay. Other events have included food and wine fairs, art and photography workshops utilising the island’s landscapes, and even themed historical reenactment days. During the winter months, things are quieter, but the Winter Whale Festival on Phillip Island often includes guided walks on Churchill Island to spot migratory whales in Western Port. Throughout the year, the Phillip Island Nature Parks calendar lists any upcoming events at Churchill Island, ensuring there’s often something extra on offer beyond the usual attractions.
Natural environment
The Churchill Island Marine National Park adjoins the island's western shore, and Western Port bay, in which the island is located, is listed under the Ramsar Convention. Cape Barren geese can be frequently observed on the island.
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