OVER 700 people have signed a petition to formally submit a proposal to the Mornington Peninsula Shire for Tyrone Beach to be recognised as a locality.
The campaign was launched in May and surpassed its target of 500 signatures in just three weeks.
A formal request to consider the area between Blairgowrie and White Cliffs as a new locality will now be submitted to the shire for consideration.
Ben Greenwood, campaign coordinator, moved permanently to the area two years ago after spending lots of time at his grandparent’s house in Rye growing up.
He said Tyrone Beach has its own character and is different to Blairgowrie or Rye.
“It’s sort of a different area. It has its own beach and its own sort of identity,” said Greenwood.
He said a group of volunteers got together and drew up a plan, made a website, began distributing flyers, and started the petition.
Greenwood said the response has been incredibly positive and they received signatures quicker than expected.
“A lot of people have said to me, ‘Oh, I’ve been thinking about this for years, and we just wanted someone to do something, and this is a really special place, and it should be its own area, and thank you for doing it,’ and a lot of really positive feedback,” said Greenwood.
The proposed locality stretches from Canterbury Jetty Rd to near the Whitecliffs Foreshore Campground and extends inland to Melbourne Rd.
“I think it would just give the area its own sense of identity, and it would be recognised as its own unique area,” said Greenwood.
“[Locals] said there’d been talk over the years of making its own township, and that it just needed a bit of impetus and people to come together and do something.”
Greenwood said the name Tyrone reflects the historic Tyrone pastoral run established by the Cain family in 1842 and is already associated with local landmarks.
He said the recognition will help preserve local history and improve navigation and safety by providing clearer geographical markers in the foreshore area.
“I think it also just gives us a stronger sense of community identity for people who live in the area and are proud of the area and enjoy the area,” said Greenwood.
Greenwood is hopeful this process will show the council the level of community support and they will subsequently begin a formal consultation process.
First published in the Mornington News – 16 June 2026
