Location
Mannerim extends from Swan Bay, on the south-east coast of the Bellarine Peninsula, inland towards Drysdale. It lies between Queenscliff and St Leonards and is about 20km east-south-east of Geelong.

Description
Mannerim remains mostly farming land and includes a number of homesteads on large acreages. Part of the railway line - from Queenscliff through the hills around Mannerim to Drysdale - is now a tourist attraction and known as the Bellarine Peninsula Railway. Steam trains provide travellers with excellent views of the peninsula and across Swan Bay. Galleries and vineyards that host fine music and art have been established at the edge of the district. Mannerim borders Wallington, the Soho Cafe and Gallery in the north and the Swan Bay Marine Reserve in the east. This shallow and tidal reserve has a jetty for small craft and a caravan park that offers superb access to the heads of Port Phillip Bay.

History
The district of Mannerim was named after a property on the Queenscliff Road. This in turn was named after the Wathaurong word for the land formations around Queenscliff. 'Mann' meant 'hand' and 'Nerim' meant 'Long'. The Queenscliff isthmus was known as a 'long grasping hand' by local Aborigines. The district of Mannerim was bought and owned by a series of wealthy landowners until the 20th century. The first was the son of rich London and Florence families.

The land was well watered and leased for grazing sheep for several decades. The 10-room 'villa' on the property had a balcony with views of the Heads and Bass Strait. Later the property was divided and sold into smaller farms. A petition signed by 14 parents in the region led to the construction of a school, which was renamed Mannerim school in 1911. A Methodist church was built in Banks Road and a public hall built near the station in 1925. The district was served by the Geelong-Queenscliff railway line until it closed about 30 years ago.