Seaspray, Victoria

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = town

| name = Seaspray

| state = vic

| image = File:Across parkland and creek to beach, Seaspray, Vic, jjron, 31.03.2016.jpg

| caption = Parks and water are prominent attractions

| lga = Shire of Wellington

| use_lga_map = yes

| postcode = 3851{{cite web|title=Seaspray Demographics (VIC) Local Stats|url=https://localstats.com.au/demographics/vic/south-eastern-victoria/gippsland/seaspray|work=Qpzm LocalStats|publisher=Qpzm|access-date=8 January 2013}}

| est =

| pop = 322

| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}

| pop_footnotes =

| elevation=

| coordinates = {{coord|38|23|00|S|147|10|00|E|display=inline,title}}

| maxtemp =

| mintemp =

| rainfall =

| county = Buln Buln

| stategov = Gippsland East

| fedgov = Gippsland

| dist1 = 242

| dir1 = east

| location1= Melbourne

| dist2 = 34

| dir2 = south

| location2= Sale

| dist3 = 62

| dir3 = north east

| location3= Yarram

| dist4 =

| dir4 =

| location4=

}}

Seaspray is a town in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Ninety Mile Beach, about {{convert|10|km}} off the South Gippsland Highway, in the Shire of Wellington, {{convert|242|km}} east of the state capital, Melbourne.

At the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Seaspray had a population of 322.{{cite web|url=https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC22240|title=2016 Census QuickStats: Seaspray|date=23 October 2017|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=2 May 2019}}

Seaspray's main recreational features and tourism attractions focus around swimming, surfing and other watersports, as well as fishing on the Ninety Mile Beach. There is also fishing in the creek, walks, tennis, picnic and playground facilities, and regular markets.{{cite web|title=SEASPRAY information & attractions|url=http://www.travelvictoria.com.au/seaspray/|publisher=Travel Victoria|access-date=8 January 2013}}{{cite web|title=Seaspray Victoria Australia|url=http://www.gippslandinfo.com.au/accom_result1/seaspray-victoria-australia/|work=Gippsland and Beyond|access-date=8 January 2013}}

In winter, people are likely to see southern right whales cavorting close to shore.{{cite news |title=Whales off Seaspray |url=http://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/4898671/whales-off-seaspray/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |work=Gippsland Times |date=2017-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905231948/http://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/4898671/whales-off-seaspray/ |archive-date=2017-09-05}}

The town is home to a Surf Life Saving Club and hosts annual Surf Life Saving Carnivals. In 2015, the Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club underwent a $2.6 million rebuild after the previous club rooms had been badly damaged by violent storms in 2007. This first stage of the rebuild included better operational control facilities, a first-aid centre, equipment storage, and a function area with views across the town and beach. Future stages will include a patrol tower, extensive outside decking to expand the function area, and larger storage facilities.{{cite web|title=Seaspray SLSC work begins|url=http://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/2885552/seaspray-slsc-work-begins/|website=Gippsland Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=23 June 2016|date=16 February 2015}}

History

The original inhabitants of the area were the Gunaikurnai or Kurnai people, who have lived in the Gippsland area for over 20,000 years.{{cite web |title=We are Gunaikurnai |url=https://gunaikurnai.org/ |publisher=Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation |access-date=2024-09-24}}

In 1943, seven people were injured at Seaspray Beach, two seriously, after a target being towed by an RAAF plane struck a number of people on the beach.{{cite news |title=Shocking Accident at Seaspray |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206351446# |access-date=8 May 2021 |work=The Age |date=28 December 1943 |via=Trove |quote=A target attached by a wire to an R.A.A.F. plane, which was flying at a low level, struck a group of people on the beach.}}

Seaspray hosted an overnight stop on the Great Victorian Bike Ride during its seventh running in 1990,{{cite web|title=History of the Great Victorian Bike Ride|url=http://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/great-rides/94425/|work=Official site|publisher=Bicycle Network Victoria|access-date=27 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110083026/http://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/great-rides/94425/|archive-date=10 January 2013}} and again in 2017.

Gallery

File:NE across reserve and town, Seaspray, Vic, jjron, 31.03.2016.jpg|Looking across the Coastal Reserve to the town from near the Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), 2016

File:Surf Life Saving Club from beach, Seaspray, Vic, jjron, 31.03.2016.jpg|First stage rebuild of the SLSC, 2016

File:East along 90 Mile Beach, Seaspray, Vic, jjron, 31.03.2016.jpg|View north-east along the Ninety Mile Beach, 2016

File:Seaspray S.L.S.C.jpg|The SLSC as seen from the road, 2024

File:Seaspray SLSC outdoor seating.jpg|Outdoor seating at the SLSC, 2024

References

{{reflist}}

{{Wikivoyage|Seaspray}}

{{commons category}}

{{Towns in Wellington Shire}}

{{Towns in Central Gippsland}}

{{Australiansurf}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Beaches of Victoria (state)

Category:Surfing locations in Victoria (state)

Category:Towns in Victoria (state)

Category:Shire of Wellington