The electorate of Williamstown includes the suburbs of Williamstown, Newport, Altona, Altona North, Brooklyn, Seaholme, Spotswood, South Kingsville and parts of Yarraville. The area encompasses a unique mix of residential neighbourhoods, thriving industrial precincts, significant environmental parks & assets and rich maritime heritage.
The land on which the electorate of Williamstown is situated has a history stretching back tens of thousands of years. It is the traditional Country of the Bunurong and Woi Wurrung (Wurundjeri) people of the Kulin Nation. Prior to English settlement in 1835 these two tribes occupied the land that we live on today nurturing it and calling it home.
The Woi Wurrung (Wurundjeri) tribe was made up of clans, including the Yalukit Willam clan whose name means “river home” or “people of the river”. The Yalukit Willam clan lived along the northern shores of Port Phillip Bay, which included Williamstown and Footscray.
The neighbouring Marin-Balluk people occupied the area between Kororoit Creek and the Maribyrnong River. Their enduring connection to Country remains an important part of the area’s history and identity today. Read more about Williamstown here and here.
Williamstown’s settler history began in 1835 following the arrival of John Batman. Suburbs in the Williamstown electorate soon became industrial hubs that provided manufacturing and building jobs to thousands of working-class people. Williamstown quickly emerged as a major maritime gateway for Victoria. 11 km from the CBD, Williamstown is Melbourne’s first port settlement. The electorate played a pivotal role in the state’s development, with industries centred around shipping, rail, manufacturing and logistics providing secure employment for generations of local families. Rich with heritage, our electorate is home to the oldest port, pier, lighthouse, maritime industry, naval dockyards, railway workshops, and train station in Australia.
Williamstown continues to evolve as a dynamic and growing community but has not forgotten it’s industrial history. Alongside its industrial and working port functions, the electorate boasts picturesque coastal environments, thriving local businesses, vibrant arts and cultural organisations, and a strong sense of community. Residents enjoy access to some of Melbourne’s most popular attractions, including Scienceworks, Seaworks, the Newport Railway Museum, Williamstown Beach, Williamstown Botanic Gardens, Altona Beach, Gem Pier, the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary and the historic Newport Substation.
The electorate of Williamstown is ever proud of it’s number of sporting clubs and teams ranging from it’s Aussie rules football teams such as the CYMS and Seagulls, Soccer team, junior netball team, Power House Junior Rugby Union team and bowls club.
Today, the electorate of Williamstown is home to a diverse and multicultural community. Residents come from a wide range of cultural, linguistic and faith backgrounds, reflecting successive waves of migration that have helped shape Melbourne’s west. From the post-war arrival of migrants from southern and eastern Europe to communities from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, the electorate’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths.
This rich cultural heritage is reflected in local businesses, community organisations, sporting clubs, places of worship and festivals that contribute to the vibrant character of Williamstown and the surrounding suburbs.
The electorate is also home to extensive parklands, wetlands and coastal environments, including the internationally significant Cheetham Wetlands and important habitats that support a diverse range of native birdlife and wildlife. These natural assets contribute to the area’s unique character and liveability.
Some of the key initiatives that are underway or have been completed by the Victorian Labor Government for the Williamstown electorate include:
- $29 million for a new local high school for the Seddon, Kingsville, and Yarraville area, as a part of the Footscray Learning Precinct which opened its’ doors in 2021.
- $3.8 million additional funding for Altona North Primary School to build new classrooms and learning areas.
- $10.2 million for the modernisation of Wembley Primary School’s main building.
- The removal of two dangerous and congested level crossings on Kororoit Creek Road and Ferguson Street in Williamstown, making it faster and safer for pedestrians, drivers and public transport users to travel through these areas.
- $5 million for 500,000 trees in the inner west.
- $650,000 worth of works recently commenced on Gem Pier. These preservation works will see the replacement and repair of piles beneath the Pier as part of the Better Recreational Facilities Initiative.
- World class healthcare will be available right here in the inner west, as the Victorian Labor Government gets on with building the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital, set to open 2025.