Suburb Profile

LOCATION

Drysdale is inland from Clifton Springs on the Bellarine Peninsula, 16km east of Geelong city.

DESCRIPTION
The townships of Drysdale, Clifton Springs and Bellarine are situated in the centre of the Bellarine Peninsula about 2o kilometers from central Geelong along the Bellarine Highway on route to Portarlington.

Over the years Drysdale has become one of Geelong's great rural hubs. Its sandy loam soil was perfect for Potato farming and more recently small quality vineyards have popped up making some of the states finest wines, including Scotchman' Hill, Kilgour Estate Winery and the Spray Farm just to name a few. Until the late 1990's Drysdale was the administrative centre of the former Shire of Bellarine. The City of Greater Geelong now administers the whole peninsula with the exception of Queenscliff..

Drysdale has a well developed town centre with large supermarket complex and specialty shops. There are plenty of cafe's and specialty shops for visitors to explore.

A popular tourist experience is to travel on the Drysdale to Queenscliff historic steam train which operates every Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday year round with extra running days on most public holidays & during Summer School Holidays. Drysdale Station is open on all running days and hosts a Kiosk ,Museum & Tourist Info centre. This delightful trip back in history takes visitors through the rolling Bellarine Peninsula plains to the historic seaside town of Queenscliff. There are special Blues Train tours available too, where local blues bands play in the carriages.

Over the past few decades Clifton Springs has become a home for thousands of people with many new housing development taking popping up. Many of the people commute to work in Geelong or even Melbourne which is about an hour and twenty minutes away by road.

The Drysdale Market is one of the more popular of the things to do in Drysdale it is held on the third Sunday of the month between September and April on the local recreation reserve.

POPULATION
The population of Drysdale in 2001 was 2,877 people.

EDUCATION
There are 3 schools and 2 childcare centres located in Drysdale.