Portland was the home of the first cement works in Australia, and has since become known as the town that built Sydney. The cement works and quarries (now closed) are a landmark feature. Today the quarries have given way to water filled 'lakes', and the cement works buildings, workers cottages and numerous other heritage items such as the bottle kilns provide a reminder of the activities upon which the town was built.
Visitors to the town can see the recreated historic signage that includes household names such as Goanna Salve, Bushell's Tea, and Arnott's Biscuits. The signs have been created by Ron Bidwell and a team of fellow sign writers. These beautiful and colourful murals have brightened up the town and become an attraction in their own right. The sign writers come back every year to repair and create new murals on the walls of businesses throughout the town.