Captain John Griffiths
1801-1881
In Memory of Captain John Griffiths 1801 - 1881
This island is named after him and he was responsible for bringing the first White settlers from Launceston, Tasmania to Portland Bay and Port Fairy Victoria. He established the first major whaling station at Portland in 1833 and later established a larger whaling station on this island, in 1836.
An entrepreneur, his activities included ship-builder, ship-owner, intercolonial trader, merchant, farmer, whaler, sailor, brewer, flour-miller, and landowner.
Marker is on Griffiths Island just east of Ocean Drive, on the left.
Courtesy hmdb.org
