About Us
For over 100 years the Mornington Peninsula has been and remains one of Victoria’s favourite recreational destinations. Whether residents or visitors, generations of Greater Melbourne families have enjoyed growing up and holidaying on the Peninsula, thereby contributing to the municipality’s heritage and cultural development.
What We Do
The Mornington Peninsula Beach Box Association represents and advocates on behalf of licensees of boat sheds and bathing boxes (beach boxes) located on the Mornington Peninsula. The volunteer committee is elected annually through the annual general meeting.
The primary functions of the Association:
- Preserving and promoting local heritage and culture
- Representing member interests to the Mornington Peninsula community, local and state governments or their agencies and the wider public
- Disseminating information and commenting on member issues
- Participating in meetings to enhance the management and preservation of all licenced beach boxes located around Port Phillip and Western Port
- Seeking prospective members from all non-commercial beach box licensees; and
- Anything necessary for the promotion and preservation of the beach box culture on the Mornington Peninsula.
We aim to be:
- An Information Hub – ensuring you have access to the information you need to be an informed licensee
- A People Hub – ensuring you can connect with the right stakeholders when you need them and with fellow licensees
- An Action Hub – whilst we cannot act on your behalf (we are volunteers who are not able to provide legal, engineering or other professional advice) we do try to provide you with ideas about how you might solve an issue or bring an idea to life
Our History
The Mornington Peninsula is one of Victoria’s favourite recreation destinations. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the amazing beaches.
The Mornington Peninsula has about 45 km or one sixth of Port Phillip’s coastline. There are 26 beaches between Mount Eliza and Portsea and peppered along the coastline are over 1,300 bathing boxes, boatsheds and similar structures. This is approximately two thirds of Victoria’s 2,000 beach boxes.
The State Government through DEECA (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) permits beach boxes and similar structures on Crown land reserves by delegating the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and other appointed Foreshore Committees of Management to issue a conditional licence or permit for a statutory period. Some revenue raised from beach boxes is used to maintain and enhance the beach environment for all communities and visitors.
Licensees and permit holders use their beach boxes for shelter and storage of boats, accessories, and equipment associated with boat or beach use. Not surprisingly, when beach boxes are grouped together, families, friends, visitors and other beach users create a sense of community.
Beach boxes have been built by members of the community over the past century and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes often reflecting the architectural style of the period in which they were constructed. Individually, each one is unique in its appearance and character; as a group they are a colourful cluster of historical icons. They are part of the Mornington Peninsula’s identity and Victoria’s cultural heritage.
The Mornington Peninsula Beach Box Association, through its predecessor the Mount Martha Boatshed Owners and Users Association, has been established for over 20 years and represents member beach box licensees on the Mornington Peninsula. The Association and its members share a common purpose ‘to preserve and promote local heritage and culture’.
a Snapshot of our Purpose:
To preserve and promote local heritage and culture.
To seek prospective members from all beach box licensees.
To represent member interests to the community, Local and State Governments or their agencies and the wider general public.
To disseminate information and comment on member issues.
To participate in formal arrangements to enhance the management and preservation of all licensed beach boxes located around Port Phillip and Western Port.
To enter into contracts for the provision of collective foreshore services or consultancies.
To do all such other things necessary for the promotion and preservation of the beach box culture on the Mornington Peninsula.
To include members in the Association’s group insurance policy at a fraction of the cost of insuring privately.
Preserving & Promoting
We have been established for over 20 years and represent member beach box Licensees on the Mornington Peninsula. The Association and its members share a common purpose ‘to preserve and promote local heritage and culture'.
