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Mount Martha: where the bush meets the beach

The nbn project | Published on 20 September 2019
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From the world-famous to the almost unknown, and little moments through to big events, we explore what puts nbn™ ready-to-connect towns, suburbs and cities on the map…

An age-old ‘would you rather’ question pits living in a peaceful cabin in the woods against the watery calm of a seaside beach house.

Yet, in Victoria’s Mount Martha, you don’t have to choose one or the other – you get the best of both bush and beach worlds.

Soak in the sights of tranquil Port Phillip Bay as you take an hour-long road trip from Melbourne’s CBD to arrive at the not-so-sleepy home of 18,000+ residents fortunate to call Mount Martha home.

Mount Martha, get connected

Mount Martha is now ready to connect to the nbn™ broadband access network.

Recent Connecting Australia research (commissioned by NBN Co) predicts that, by 2021, up to 19,740 additional businesses in Victoria will be attributable to services over the nbn™ access network. 

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Mount Martha according to Bob

If there’s one thing Bob Lazer knows all about, it’s tax.

For 50 years – the last 24 of them based in Mount Martha – Bob Lazer Taxation has been helping clients with their tax needs.

“We are an accredited Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) practice running out of Mount Martha – for six months of the year at least.

“For the other six months, my wife Wendy and I, we travel the world. We’ve been married for more than 50 years and have just returned from India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.”

Over time, says Bob, there have been changes to the way the business operates, including when the nbn™ access network rolled into town.

“Our entire practice has changed to a ‘mail-in’ service. This gives us much more flexibility to meet our workload, as well as having time to travel.

“Our business relies on the nbn™ access network.

“We send thousands of tax returns through to the Australian Taxation Office via our nbn™ connection and we’d be lost without it. Some of our clients have been with us for 40 years.

Bob Lazer and his wife Wendy on their recent visit to the Taj Mahal, located in the Agra District, Uttar Pradesh, India
“Now that our business runs over the internet, we can run it completely remotely. So, if we’re not in Mount Martha – where we’ve been for the last 24 years – we can work wherever we want.”

The region according to nbn™ local’s Matt

If anyone knows the benefits of Mount Martha beyond its natural beauty, it’s Matt Evans, Head of nbn™ local for Victoria and Tasmania.

We asked Matt how the arrival of the nbn™ access network may help the region:

“The arrival of the nbn™ access network will help enable local residents to make lifestyle choices, including working from home.

"I’m excited to see how the community will embrace the opportunities that can come with fast broadband..." 

"I’m excited to see how the community will embrace the opportunities that can come with fast broadband, whether it be through growing existing businesses, mastering new skills through online courses, or connecting with friends and family across Australia and the world.

“Tourism is a vital part of the local economy, and being able connect to services over the nbn™ access network can help local businesses serve their customers, and may present new opportunities for the region’s tourism industry to further grow and develop.”*

Matt Evans, Head of nbn™ local for Victoria and Tasmania

Three things to do in Mount Martha

Take a tour at The Briars

There’s something to tickle almost every fancy at The Briars. There’s a vineyard for wine lovers. A restaurant to have a bite. Beautiful walking trails to meander through pastures, wetlands and woodlands. In short, there’s an abundance of flora and fauna to enjoy. (Be sure to keep an eye out for the colourful birds!) In the middle of the park is The Briars Historic Homestead, built in 1848 and open for public tours.

Have a colourful (fun) run at The Colour Carnivale

Image courtesy of The Colour Carnivale
But, let’s be clear, you don’t actually have to run. Take it at a leisurely pace, if that’s more your speed. Either way, if you’re visiting in October, this five-kilometre course will add some colour to your cheeks… and the rest of you! That’s because the course is packed with colour ‘bombs’, foam, obstacles and more. Once you’ve crossed the colourful finish line, grab some tucker from a food truck, join in other colourful games and activities, and get your groove on at the colour disco. And it’s all for a worthy cause, raising awareness and funds for the Ruby-Rose Rainbow Fund.

Take a dip at Mount Martha Beach

Before you hit the calm and clear waters, take a moment to appreciate the brightly-coloured bathing boxes hugging the 2km stretch of golden sandy beachfront. This is a chilled sandy spot that’s great for beach lovers of all ages, and is as rewarding for bathers as it is boaters. There’s a picnic area and barbecue, too, if you fancy a feed after your dip. Once you’re done on the beach, cross the road to the main strip of Mount Martha Village to while away some more of your day.

Mount Martha by the numbers

3.5 – The length in kilometres of the walking tracks and boardwalk at Balcombe Estuary Bushland Reserve.
5 – The number of ‘modern’ baths and showers with hot and cold running water found at Mount Martha House in 1930.
18 – The number of holes of publicly accessible golf on offer at Mt Martha Public Golf Course.
80 – The distance in kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD to Mount Martha.
120+ – The number of different species of birds found in Mount Martha’s wetlands.
161 – The rise in metres of granitic Mount Martha.
230 – The size in hectares of The Briars National Trust property.
700 – The number of subdivided allotments that led to the birth of contemporary Mount Martha.
1836 – The year that Captain William Hobson named Mount Martha.
1872 – The year Mount Martha’s first school opened.
3000+ – The number of Australian and American military personnel housed at Balcombe Camp in World War II.
18,548 – The population of Mount Martha, according to the 2016 Census.
 

* An end user’s experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ broadband access network, depends on the nbn™ access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to their premises, whether they are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like their equipment quality, software, chosen broadband plan, signal reception, or how their provider designs its network). Speeds may also be impacted by the number of concurrent users on the nbn™ Fixed Wireless network, including during busy periods. Sky Muster™ satellite end users may also experience latency.


^nbn is very happy with Bob’s experiences with the nbn™ broadband access network. Of course, end user experiences may vary. An end user’s experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ broadband access network, depends on the configuration over which services are delivered to their premises, whether they are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like their equipment quality, software and signal reception). Satellite end users may also experience latency.
 



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