Location
St Leonards lies at the eastern-most tip of the Bellarine Peninsula between Indented Head and Swan Bay, 30km east of Geelong city and 46km across the bay from Melbourne.

Description
Because St Leonards faces east, it has the advantage of views over Swan Island towards the heads, as well as across the bay as far as Melbourne on a clear day. It has a foreshore reserve that runs from Indented Head in the north, to Lower Bluff wildlife reserve in the south. There are three camping areas on the foreshore, numerous boat ramps, and a yacht club. Water-skiing, fishing, and sailing are popular activities. Large reserves adjoin Salt Lagoon - a State nature reserve - and St Leonards Lake in the town. There are other parks along the main road and shopping strip that runs down to the jetty. St Leonards has a golf course to the north and the Swan Bay Marine Reserve to the south. It is a diverse and beautiful old resort town.

History
James Langdon named his nearby pastoral station 'St Leonards' in 1849, possibly taking the name from a town in Sussex , England. Langdon was a partner of George Cole, a Melbourne merchant and owner of Coles Wharf on the Yarra River. Cole also operated paddlesteamers in Port Phillip Bay and saw the potential of trade across the bay. Cole acquired land along the foreshore and established a firewood trade. He built houses and then a pier, by sinking three ship hulks. The pier was functioning by 1862.

Corollary industries, bark daubing and a leather tannery opened and during one period there were more than 300 men employed. Perhaps because there weren't enough trees on the naturally open peninsula, the timber cutting industry only lasted until the 1870s. Subsequent industries included brick-making and grazing. The jetty was used to ship farm produce to Melbourne until roads became more efficient in the 20th century. After the wars, St Leonards became a camping, fishing and boating resort.