In 1869, American Methodists established a permanent religious camp community on the coast at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, in the United States of America. It was so successful that they decided to spread their camps overseas, including to Australia. Following a collaboration with the Victorian Methodists, an initial camp was set up near Point Lonsdale. By 1882 they needed to acquire a larger area, so they could establish their Australian Ocean Grove community. The site chosen was on the eastern side of the mouth of the Barwon River, overlooking Bass Strait. In 1887, Charles James and James Grigg purchased, surveyed and subdivided land into 2,500 blocks bearing the covenant "no part of the above Land shall be used for the Manufacture or Sale of Malted Spirituous, or Vinous Liquors". Due to this covenant, no bars or public houses could sell liquor within the town limits. The Ocean Grove Coffee Palace was built for the Methodist and Temperance Society, the first church service was held on 1 January 1888, and the population was such that a post office opened on 14 September 1888. In 1927 the town was linked by the Barwon Heads Bridge to Barwon Heads on the other side of the river, previous access being by rowboat. Many streets are named after important people in the old Methodist community, while the local youth camp was run by the Methodist church from the 1920s until 1996. In 2014, VCAT ruled the liquor ban was no longer enforceable. The township now has a number of bars that can legally serve alcohol.
Today
Now the largest town on the Bellarine Peninsula, Ocean Grove has the largest shopping centre on the peninsula. Only a few blocks from the beach, it is popular with tourists and locals alike. In 2005 a new shopping centre was built in the Collendina area, allowing the locals to shop at both Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. Ocean Grove has a resident population of about 12,000 which, during the school summer holidays, swells to four times this number as tourists from Melbourne, Geelong, interstate, and overseas flock in. The area offers surf beaches, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, bushwalking and other outdoor activities. The Ocean Grove Nature Reserve preserves some remnant native woodland and contains walking tracks. Significant infrastructure development in Ocean Grove during 2008-2009 has resulted in two soccer pitches, indoor swimming complex complete with a 25m pool and a four-star Skate Park with Bowl suitable for boards, blades and bikes. A Target Country Store was opened in October 2009 as part of a mini-mall, featuring Gloria Jeans. Upgrades to the 'Grubbers' Football clubrooms are scheduled for 2009. While tourism makes the largest contribution to the local economy, during the slower months a larger proportion of local income is derived from orchards, fruit and vegetablegrowers, and the local wineries. One of the local newspapers is the . Since the mid year of 2018 an even larger shopping complex has begun construction and is due to open late 2019 which will be the biggest shopping complex on the peninsula and will house a McDonald's, Woolworths, Caltex petrol station and a Bakers delight with other public vendor space available.
Sport
The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Bellarine Football League. The Surfside Waves Soccer Club competes in the Geelong Regional Football Association. Golfers play at the course of the Ocean Grove Golf Club on Guthridge Street. The town hosts a Bi-annual Geelong gaming competition with teams from around the greater Geelong region compete for a minor cash prize and qualification for the state competition held in broad meadows. Other Sports: Shell Road Complex & Surrounds
There are also two tennis clubs with modern facilities - Ocean Grove Tennis Club - Madeley St and Surfside Tennis Club - Shell Road.
Popular culture
Ocean Grove was featured in the 2006 filmKenny, while the bridge between Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads featured in the popular ABCtelevision showSeaChange. The town is also the home town of fishing personality Ross Gould. Prominent Flat Earth researcher Brendan Wing also resides nearby. The band The Murlocs formed in Ocean Grove. The band Ocean Grove is named after the town.
