Drysdale
The township of Drysdale in Victoria, Australia, is situated on the Bellarine Peninsula which runs easterly from the large regional centre of Geelong and ends at Point Lonsdale, one of the heads at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay.
Drysdale today retains some of its former rural character but has, along with its adjoining township of Clifton Springs, become a commuter and retirement township.
The township of Drysdale takes its name from Miss Anne Drysdale who had owned farming property in Scotland prior to migrating for health reasons to Port Phillip where she arrived in March, 1840. Miss Drysdale and her business partner, Miss Caroline Elizabeth Newcomb, had a licence to occupy 'Boronggoop', a "squatting" run situated between the Barwon River and Corio Bay, which was later extended to Leep Leep near Lake Connewarre.
Clifton Springs
Situated 13 miles (20 kms) from Geelong on the Bellarine Peninsula, Clifton Springs today is home to a large number of retired people as well as a growing, younger population who commute daily to Geelong and Melbourne.
Early records, particularly those of the Geelong Advertiser, show the main area as being from Glenholme Road (now Beacon Point Road) to the foreshore. Clifton now reaches towards the Portarlington Road and extends to Beacon Point itself.
