1880s seaside resort boom

Queenscliff became a tourist destination in the late 19th century, visitors arriving from Melbourne after a two-hour journey on the paddle steamer, Ozone.^[6]

The opening of a railway line to Geelong in 1879^[7] brought more tourists to the area, and numerous luxury hotels (or coffee palaces) were built to accommodate them. The Palace Hotel (later renamed Esplanade Hotel, now known as the Queenscliff Brewhouse) was built in 1879, the Baillieu Hotel was built in 1881 (and later renamed Ozone Hotel),^[8] the Vue Grande Hotel in 1883, and the Queenscliff Hotel in 1887.

Decline

The advent of the car saw Queenscliff drop in popularity as a tourist destination, as tourists were no longer dependent on its role as a transport hub. The railway ceased weekly passenger services in 1950, and was closed in 1976. In 1979 the Queenscliff Railway reopened as a Heritage Train Service, running between Queenscliff and Drysdale stations with mid-point stops at Laker's Siding and Suma Park.

Revival

The 1980s saw a return in the town's tourist popularity.^[9]

In 2005, the area previously holding the Fort Barracks was subdivided into residential blocks and renamed Shortlands Beach in honour of the town's prior name. The proposed redevelopment drew fierce criticism from some sectors of the community, who feared loss of an important heritage site. The original fort remains on site.

Heritage listed sites

Queenscliff contains several Victorian Heritage Register listed sites, including:

• 1 Weeroona Parade and 2 Wharf Street, Fisherman's Shed^[10]
• 44 Gellibrand Street, Lathamstowe^[11]
• 42 Gellibrand Street, Ozone Hotel^[12]
• 60-62 Gellibrand Street, Pilots Cottages^[13]
• 16 Gellibrand Street, Queenscliff Hotel^[14]
• Symonds Street, Queenscliff Pier and Lifeboat Complex^[15]
• 20 Symonds Street, Queenscliff railway station^[16]
• 26 King Street, Rosenfeld^[17]
• 42 Mercer Street, Roseville Cottage^[18]
• 16-26 Hobson Street, St George the Martyr Church and Parish Hall^[19]
• 80 Mercer Street, Warringah^[20]
• Corner Wharf Street and Gellibrand Street, Wreck Bell^[21]
• 133-135 Hesse St, Shortlands Bluff^[22]

Festivals

The Queenscliff Seafood Feast,^[23] a culinary festival using fresh seafood donated by local fishermen, is held annually on Good Friday to raise funds for the Royal Children's Hospital.

Queenscliff is also home to the Queenscliff Music Festival,^[24] a popular annual music festival, held on the last weekend of November, which attracts both local and international acts and is an important part of the town's tourist industry.

Museums

Queenscliff has three museums; the Queenscliff Historical Museum, Queenscliff Maritime Museum, and the Fort Queenscliff Museum.

Sport

The Queenscliff Football Club is the town's Australian rules football club which participates in the Bellarine Football League.

Golfers play at the course of the Queenscliff Golf Club at Swan Island.^[25]

Media

The Queenscliff Herald was founded in 1999 by Greg Wane who edited and managed the newspaper until 2004 when the Murphy family bought the masthead and continue to publish the newspaper. The final elimination on the second season of The Mole took place here in late 2000.

Tourist Attractions

As a popular tourist destination, Queenscliff has numerous tourist attractions including The Bellarine Railway, the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre and Queenscliff Harbour. The town is also famous for ghosts including Big Rem.