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Bellarine put on the map!

January 14, 2022 BY

City Maps founder/producer Melinda Clarke standing next to and holding prints of the completed Bellarine Map. Photo: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

ALMOST four years since the first line was drawn, the Bellarine Map is now complete and ready to be purchased by those holding a special connection to the region.

The exquisite detail of thousands of stories within the Bellarine’s map created by producer Melinda Clarke and her team has been a journey of bumps and timeline extensions, but the mapmaker is proud of where the end product has landed.

“The prints are just beautiful,” Ms Clarke said.

“I couldn’t be happier with result and now we are in hustle mode to get as many orders out as we can.

“We have moved from the franticness of making the product to the franticness of getting them out.”

The map displays intricate details of towns such as Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Marcus Hill, Wallington, Swan Bay, Mannerim, St Leonards, Indented Head, Portarlington, Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Curlewis, Leopold, Moolap, a touch of Geelong, past the You Yangs and up to Melbourne, as well as a sneak peek of Sorrento and “that other peninsula”.

A close-up of the Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff townships found on the Bellarine map.

Deborah Monk, the map’s illustrator completed the line drawing back in June, then the scanning and editing process began.
The final drawing was then handed to graphic designer Sean Rodwell (based in Portarlington) to digitally colour. This stage of the project took another five months to complete.

“I am so grateful for the work those two have done over the duration of this project,” Ms Clarke said.

“We have the ability to be honest with one another and bounce ideas around, which has made the process a lot smoother, and I believe this map truly shows the collaboration that has gone on behind the scenes.”

Creffield Printing’s consultant Debbie Fallon, who is based in Geelong, was responsible for printing the maps, who Ms Clarke spoke very highly of.

A series of limited edition and open edition prints have been produced, along with an Australian made 1,000- and 500-piece jigsaw puzzle which is currently delighting locals and lovers of the Bellarine, who might be isolating or just spending some quality “offline” time with the family.

A close-up of the Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove townships found on the Bellarine map.

The Bellarine Map and jigsaw are available via the website www.themelbournemap.com.au with free home delivery if you live on the Bellarine, or free post further afield.

In February, production begins for The Bellarine Map’s “Australian Made” beach towels and tea towels.

Ms Clarke and her team have also begun undertaking the sketch/research phase for a new map dedicated to Victoria’s Phillip Island region, while funding is being sought from local businesses to help resume plans for The Geelong Map which was put on hold last year.