Capel Sound is a seaside suburb on the Mornington Peninsula 61kms from Melbourne.
Capel Sound recorded a population of 5,246 at the 2021 census.
This town was called Rosebud West & was renamed in September 2016
Rosebud is wedged between the lower slopes of Arthurs Seat, the shores of Port Phillip and the plains of Boneo.
It is a popular tourist resort with families who appreciate its sandy beaches and shallow waters.
Local businessmen had noticed a slowly growing phenomenon in the late 1930s and 1940s – the popularity of camping on the Rosebud foreshore; a cheap and interesting alternative to staying at guesthouses or hotels. After World War II, aided by the explosion in the number of people owning a car, camping at Rosebud over the Christmas-New Year holidays became a tradition for many Melbourne and Victorian families.
The Rosebud Foreshore Committee was set up to administer the area and take bookings, which are now made twelve months in advance. In the 21st century, camping on the foreshore has taken on a cultural dimension and there are families who are fourth and even fifth generation visitors. Many Victorians reminisce about Summer holidays at Rosebud.
By the 1960s, Rosebud had become the largest town on the southern Peninsula, complete with a shopping centre and extensive sporting facilities.
Rosebud is shielded by camping grounds lined with banksias, tea tree and sheoak. During the summer months and as late as Easter campers can be found in these areas. Rosebud is one of the main towns on the Mornington Peninsula mostly because of its shopping areas.
The foreshore area of Rosebud is one of the largest camping areas on the peninsula. During the summer months the populations of Rosebud and Dromana can double in size as many tourists stay within the camp grounds