Altona, Victoria

Altona Melbourne, Victoria
Main street of Altona.
Population	9,893 (2001 Census)
• Density
Postcode(s)	3018
Area	16.9 km2 (6.5 sq mi)
Location	13 km (8 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Hobsons Bay
State electorate(s)	Altona, Williamstown
Federal division(s)	Gellibrand
Suburbs around Altona: Laverton North Altona North Newport Altona Meadows Altona Seaholme Port Phillip

Altona is a south-western suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay.

Altona is a large suburb consisting of low density residential in the south-eastern half, with mixed industry in the north-western half. A key feature is Altona Beach on Port Phillip, which is one of only two swimming beaches in the western suburbs (the other being Williamstown Beach).

History

Intersection of Pier Street and the Esplanade in the late 1920s.

Prior to arrival of Europeans, the Altona area was home to Kurung-Jang-Balluk Aboriginal people, of the Woiwurrung clan. It is estimated at the time of European settlement, the local Aborigines numbered 40.

Altona was first permanently settled in 1842, with the construction of The Homestead by Alfred Langhorne. From 1886 housing in the Altona and Merton Street estates was sold, and by 1901 the Victorian Government owned an explosives reserve in the west of Altona.

Coal mining formed the basis of the local economy from 1908 to 1919, however this was brought to an end in 1930 when open cut mining was developed in the Latrobe Valley.

Similar to the rest of Melbourne, following the Second World War Altona embraced a large influx of immigrants, primarily from the Mediterranean, Central Europe and a smaller number from the Middle East.

From 1864 Altona was a town in the Shire of Werribee, until the City of Altona was formed in 1968. The City of Altona included Altona and the surrounding suburbs of Altona Meadows, Altona North and Seaholme.

In 1994 during local government amalgamations by the Kennett Government, the City of Altona merged with the Cities of Williamstown and Laverton to form the City of Hobsons Bay. Some residents still use the name Altona to refer to Altona and surrounding suburbs.

Parks and gardens

Altona has many significant parks and gardens, including some important environmental conservation areas and wetlands along the shores of Port Phillip which are also used by visitors and residents recreationally including a long promenade along the bay.

• Cherry Lake, Altona
  Cherry Lake, Altona
• 
  P.A. Burns Reserve and Altona Coastal Park shoreline
• 
  Altona Beach promenade (known as the Esplanade) and Altona Pier

Education

Altona has three primary schools consisting of Altona Primary School, Altona West Primary School, and St. Marys Catholic Primary School. The secondary schools include Altona Secondary College and Mt. St. Joseph Girls College. Altona West Primary School and Altona Secondary College are soon to be merged into the one campus, to be called Altona College.

Altona has a library branch, which contains the Environmental Resources Centre. This centre provides the community access to media concerning the environmental initiatives of Hobsons Bay, including Industry Environment Improvement Plans from local industry.

Culture

Hobsons Bay council chambers in Altona.

Altona Bayside Festival is held annually to promote and celebrate Hobsons Bay and the western suburbs. It involves various activities during a weekend, including a street parade, arts and home craft exhibition, competitions, professional entertainers and fireworks. The 30th anniversary is to be held in 2007.

The Altona City Theatre is a production company based in the Altona Civic Theatre, producing two major musicals and a smaller pantomime annually. These productions coincide with the Bayside Festival.

Sport

Altona is home to many sporting clubs including Australian rules football, soccer, hockey, basketball, and cricket. Melbourne Ballpark is a baseball complex in the west of Altona.

Altona Roosters are the local Victorian Rugby League team, whose home ground is Loft Reserve in neighbouring Newport. The Roosters are the current premiers, defeating the Casey Sharks to gain the title.

Transport

The two train stations in Altona are Altona and Westona, both on the Werribee railway line. The bus routes 411, 412 and 415 operate in Altona.

The Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail is a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the coast through Altona. This is linked to a path which loops around Cherry Lake. Most major roads have onroad cycleways.

Industry

Local industry includes petrochemical storage, manufacturing and distribution. This was a major environmental concern to residents in the 1970s and 1980s, however strict environmental controls and local projects involving industry, government and environmental groups have reduced these concerns, cleaning up coastal areas that were once neglected.

External links

• Australian Places - Altona
• Altona City Theatre