Greetings from Torquay!

---

No, I have not gone home just yet, simply visited the Devon version of my home town.

This blog is basically for my parents and friends who grew up in Torquay so I apologise to the rest of you for the many local references that you may not fully appreciate.

Torquay is part of the area known locally as the "British Riviera". Well, having not been to the French version, I cannot comment on the accuracy of this claim but I think it may be a stretch.

The town itself reminded me more of an even further commercialised version of Lorne rather than the Torquay of my youth. For example, Torquay has a casino!

The interesting thing for me was that St Luke’s church dominated the skyline from the beach. Torquay, Victoria’s version of St Luke's is a small, weather board number close to the beach, but not visible from it! This St Luke’s was a more grandiose brick version.

I bought a few Torquay postcards and magnets for a laugh. Turns out that the shopkeeper had been to both Torquay in Victoria and Queensland for the same reason as me. Just to say you did it!

The beach did not have the lovely sand I was expecting but did have Brighton-like bathing boxes. I think Torquay, Victoria did have them too - before my time though!

And absolutely no surf to speak of!

It did have a lovely marina and pier that even had a theatre.

I ventured up to the headland which had a lovely view and a war memorial but, once more, not a patch on Point Danger.

So, not the great place I was expecting but it was worthwhile to drop by and compare!

---

Photos

Torquay Beach
Beach vista from the pedestrian overpass

Torquay Beach II
The vista looking back from the beach - St Luke's is located in the left-hand corner

Torquay Marina
The pier and marina

Torquay bathing boxes
The title says it all