SETTLEMENT+OF+OCEAN+GROVE

SETTLEMENT OF OCEAN GROVE

 Before settlement Ocean Grove was occupied by the wartharurung people for great fishing and birdlife. The name ‘Ocean Grove’ was originally a town in New Jersey, U.S.A. during the 1870’s, The Methodist church set up their first religious camp just outside of New Jersey, it was hugely successful so they decided to set them up across the world. They then decided to set one up in Victoria, Australia, near Point Lonsdale. The camp was so successful that they decided to set up their own Australian version of Ocean Grove. The town grew rapidly and not long after the beginning of 1887, James Grigg and Charles James purchased and subdivided 2500 blocks of land. As the men were both very strong Methodists, they both forced the law of no alcohol to be manufactured or sold. Until recently, it was impossible to find liquor in Ocean Grove, today the rules have been relaxed and there is now a pub and some of the restaurants serve alcohol, there is a liquor store as well.