Cape Paterson

Cape Paterson
Surf Beach Road
Cape Paterson
Coordinates: 38°40′18″S 145°37′11″E / 38.6717°S 145.6198°E / -38.6717; 145.6198
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
LGA
Location
Government
 • State electorate
 • Federal division
Population
 • Total891 (2016 census)
Postcode
3995
Mean max temp18.7 °C (65.7 °F)
Mean min temp9.5 °C (49.1 °F)
Annual rainfall920.7 mm (36.25 in)
WebsiteCape Paterson

Cape Paterson (/ˈpætərsən/) is town located near the town of Wonthaggi, 132 kilometres (82 mi) south-east of Melbourne via the South Gippsland and Bass Highways, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Known originally for the discovery of coal by William Hovell in 1826, it is now extremely popular for its beaches and rockpool and at the 2011 census, it had a population of 718.

Cape Paterson has six beaches.

Cape Paterson was named by Lieut. James Grant in 1801 to honour explorer Lieut. Col. William Paterson, second in command of the Botany Bay (Sydney) battalion.