Newport link in rail celebration

From The Star

By Kerri-Anne Mesner

5th June 2007 11:05:49 AM

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THE DAYS of steam locomotives will be recalled throughout June as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Geelong and Melbourne railway.

The Williamstown Historical Society has set up an exhibition of rail memorabilia to commemorate the anniversary of trains running from Geelong to Newport.

Society president Joan Ridley said the exhibition featured a wide variety of items, including photographs, old railway uniforms and gifts to a past stationmaster, including a gold watch and a portable writing bureau.

The exhibition will be displayed at the Mechanics Institute, Electrica St, Williamstown for the month.

Opening hours are Sunday and Wednesday 2pm to 5pm, with an entry fee of $3 to the museum and $2 for concession card holders.

The exhibition is part of the Geelong Rail 150 activities, which have been organised to celebrate the anniversary of the Geelong and Melbourne railway.

The railway was built and operated by a private company, the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company. At 64 kilometres, it was the first long-distance country railway line in Australia.

Displays will be held at Geelong, Lara, Little River, Werribee and Williamstown. Celebrations will focus on the weekend of 23 and 24 June, but some displays will extend through June until late July.

All displays and events will be at, or within close walking distance of, railway stations. Visitors are encouraged to travel by rail to the display locations, using the frequent V/Line Passenger train services. Heritage diesel and steam trains will also operate on the Geelong line on Sunday 24 June, providing a link between the display sites.

All V/Line and heritage trains have charges for travel.

Details of all heritage train services are available at the website www.geelongrail150.com.au/trains.php.

Steve Bracks Profile

This is an interesting profile on the State Member for Williamstown and Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks from The Brisbane Times, Fairfax's new online venture in Queensland.

It tells a bit of his history and gives an analysis of his current standing amongst the Premiers and in the national political scene.

I remember the glorious day when he won the election against Jeff Kennett in surprising circumstances. It seemed like the end of tyranny was nigh and that you could smell the Labor air.

All the scare-mongering of "the guilty party" has been proven meaningless by more than a decade of steady, popular and fiscally responsible government by Bracks and his ALP team.

On another note, I wonder what it is about Williamstown that two of the last three Premiers have been the local member.

How times change

When I first lived in Williamstown in 1996, you could still buy a house for under $200,000. Granted it would have been in need of some TLC and maybe a full scale renovation, but it could be done.

Back then, there were precious little modern places built, now Williamstown has become funked up, real estate wise.

The Osborne Street house in this link is a case in point. Once, this sort of thing wouldn't have been seen outside Prahran, now Williamstown seems to have more and more places over the million dollar mark that bear no resemblance to the old worker's cottages that once dominated in this constantly gentrifying suburban village.

Football pics

Here are some excellent pictures of the final practice match at Burbank Oval on 1st of April between Williamstown and North Ballarat.

Final score:
Williamstown def North Ballarat 20-16-136 to 13-8-86

Not Williamstown

These are some pics I took of some buildings in Melbourne from the roof top car park of the South Melbourne Market.


Docklands apartments


Park Tower - DOH apartments


Eureka Tower pre-completion


Top of Eureka Tower


Top of BHP House


Melbourne Central Tower


Rialto Towers and Southbank apartments

Kororoit Creek Boatshed Owners to Fight Council Ultimatum

From The Star

KOROROIT Creek boatshed owners have been given an ultimatum by Hobsons Bay City Council — sign up or ship out.

After only two of the 14 boatshed owners signed the three-year licence agreement to remain on the site, the council has directed others to reconsider before 23 March.

In a letter to owners at Kororoit Creek Fishing Village it states that failure to sign the agreement by 23 March “may result in notification for you to vacate the site and remove all improvements and possessions”.

The licences, originally to be signed by 22 January, define uses and activities allowed at the site, require grey water and septic systems to be disconnected to protect the creek and outlines site holders’ rights.

Allison McAdam, Boatshed Owners Association of Port Phillip Bay and Victoria president, said she would never sign and would physically protest against any eviction.

“Good luck in trying to get rid of me — I will padlock myself to the front of the shed,” she said.

“That is my family history down there and they’re not going to move me or my family.”

Ms McAdam said boatshed owners had been advised by lawyers that they “would be mad” to sign the agreements.

“They (council) are saying that after three-years goes by we will have the first right of renewal if they choose to give it to us,” she said.

“And it states the licence can be changed at any point in time.

“Who would sign it?”

She said the boatshed owners would consider taking legal action against the council if they were removed from the sheds.

“They are trying to say we have no tenancy rights but we have paid rates and fees for decades,” she said.

Hobsons Bay mayor Leigh Hardinge said it was unfortunate the situation had “deteriorated so dramatically” but the boatshed owners were breaking planning controls.

“The council has been extremely lenient with site holders, particularly as residential occupation of the boatsheds is contrary to the planning scheme and the intent of the original permission to use the sites,” Cr Hardinge said.

Williamstown North Ward councillor Peter Hemphill said the council’s request was “fair and reasonable” and aimed to protect the environment.

“The council wants the fishing village to be cleaned up and kept tidy,” he said.

“We also want to stop grey water and sewerage from entering Kororoit Creek and Port Phillip Bay and reduce the risk of loose materials being flushed out into the bay during flash floods.”

Late last year local boatshed owners were celebrating a Magistrates’ Court decision that said Wyndham City Council could not force Campbells Cove boatshed owner Duncan Colbron to remove or vacate his property for refusing to sign a three-year licence.

Ms McAdam said the Kororoit Creek Fishing Village boatshed owners were considering similar action.

“We have been told we can certainly do that,” said Ms McAdam.

“We will fight this.”

Newport to go nuclear?

From The Star

NEWPORT will fight any plans to build a nuclear power plant in the suburb, its most powerful leaders have pledged.

Williamstown MP and Premier Steve Bracks has introduced legislation into Parliament for a Victoria-wide vote if the Federal Government tries to build a reactor in Victoria.

And Gellibrand MP Nicola Roxon has promised to join the fight if a nuclear power plant is planned for Newport.

“It is too expensive, too dangerous and not the right solution,” Ms Roxon said.

The Australia Institute think tank listed the suburb, along with Werribee and Avalon, as potential sites for a nuclear power plant in a January paper on the topic.

Mr Bracks said he was extremely concerned at the thought of nuclear power in the area.

“Victorians do not want nuclear power,” he said. “I’m sure the people of Newport do not want nuclear power and Canberra should not be forcing this on anyone.”

Hobsons Bay mayor Leigh Hardinge said it did not make sense to build a large baseload power station in a residential area.

“I would be very surprised if it was ever built in a metropolitan area,” Cr Hardinge said.

Spotswood Ward councillor Bill Baarini said he would fight any nuclear proposal for Newport like “(Anthony) Mundine in a championship fight”.

“If Newport qualifies for a reactor by the (Australia Institute) criteria then I can’t understand why the rest of Australia doesn’t,” Cr Baarini said.

Hobsons Bay Community First co-convenor Tony Briffa has urged residents to speak out early in opposition of any proposals.

“Silence implies consent,” Mr Briffa said.

“I fear if we are not concerned or active about this it will end up being here.”

Mr Briffa said he was concerned about siting a nuclear plant so close to a highly populated residential area as well as the effects of dispersing nuclear waste.

“And I guarantee 100 per cent of residents would feel the same way about it,” Mr Briffa said.

Australia Institute deputy director Andrew Macintosh said that despite being a good candidate for nuclear power, Newport would never be the site of the first reactor for political reasons.

“Politics is the only thing that will write it off,” Mr Macintosh said.

“Some say population buffers (would be a factor in preventing the power station) but there is enough space to have sufficient buffers there.”

Mr Macintosh said he thought Newport would be one of the top 10 locations considered for a reactor because there was more interest siting them in the southern states.

Cr Baarini said he would seek more information on Newport’s potential as a nuclear power site from the Australia Institute and contact the Federal Government.

Mr Briffa said he would consider holding a community forum on the issue to get the full story from policy makers and environmental groups.

Redevelopment of Knights Slipway

From The Star

HOBSONS Bay City Council and residents’ groups have responded angrily to a proposed development at the former Knight’s Slipway site in Williamstown.

The council last week resolved to object to a planning permit for the site on the grounds that it had “an over reliance on residential and non-maritime uses”, was contrary to planning schemes, and was submitted without adequate public consultation.

The proposal would see nine separate structures built by Nelson Marine Development, including a “place of assembly” that objectors believe will be a restaurant.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment, which controls the site, said it was awaiting more information from the applicant before considering the proposal.

The mayor, Leigh Hardinge, said the proposed development “completely strayed” from the Port of Melbourne Planning Scheme for the historic maritime area.

“To propose a restaurant and residential uses on that block of land is ludicrous.

“The developer is not acknowledging the importance of community consultation which is an insult to both the council and the wider Hobsons Bay community.”

Cr Hardinge indicated that the council would be submitting an objection to the Minister for Planning, Justin Madden.

However, Nelson Marine Development director Michael Flemming said there was “absolutely no basis” for objection or concern from the council or residents.

“There will be no residential use on the site.

“The whole site will be orientated towards marine uses. There will be things like sail makers and ship repairs.”

Williamstown Ward Councillor Angela Altair said the council had been given little time to mount a response, with just two weeks to lodge an objection.

“The council met with the developer and community representatives in 2002, and the developer agreed to consult with the public before any applications were lodged.”

Residents group Preserve Old Williamstown (POW) president Patsy Toop, said it would fight to ensure the site did not become an exclusive residential development, “come hell or high water”.

“It ought to be for the public use and this development will in fact alienate the public.”

Ms Toop said many people believed the “place of assembly” referred to in planning documents would turn out to be a restaurant, and was little more than “a ploy to reduce car parking requirements on the site”.

“It is an over-development of the site and we don’t believe that restaurants and this type of thing are consistent with maritime use.”

But Mr Flemming said the term “place of assembly” was used because planning documents because the final use of the land had not been decided.

“It might be a take-away food outlet but it will not be a sit down restaurant.

“Rather than simply put a tin shed on the site as before, we have designed something that will be open to the public.”

Ms Toop said POW wanted to see the site developed as “a major maritime port of call” and develop industries consistent with this.

Rennis Witham from POW said it was vital that residents and visitors could feel a sense of connection with the historic site.

“With this proposal, the sense of public and open space will be gone.

“The place will feel private and closed to the public and that means people will feel like they can’t walk through the area.”

A council statement indicated that the DSE would give the community an opportunity to comment on the proposal in the coming months.

Poison water cancer scare

Update on the poisoned water in Champion Road North Williamstown story.

Extremely high benzene contamination found at one property.

Poison water cancer scare - National - theage.com.au

Yachts torn from moorings

At Williamstown Sailing Club, at least nine boats were torn from their moorings, while two sank overnight because of strong winds and heavy seas. Boats have also broken from their moorings at Hobson's Bay, damaging other boats.

Senior Constable Leigh Wadeson from Victoria Police said a yacht and a motor boat had sunk and nine yachts had come away from their swing moorings at Williamstown.

It is believed that only the mast of the sunken yacht is visible.

'It is up to the owners to salvage them, but members of the Water Police are there at the moment tying them down until the owners get there,' Constable Wadeson said."

Wild winds leave thousands in dark - National - theage.com.au

Petrol leak sparks health fears in North Williamstown

A shocking situation has arisen in North Williamstown where a leaking pipe from the Exxon Mobil plant has caused petrol to contaminate the water supply in parts of the suburb. Several people have reportedly been sick from the incident and the EPA is investigating. It appears that it's been going on for some time.

Industrial properties in Champion Road and some households in Challis St report that the water smells like petrol.

Benzine in petrol is linked to leukemia and other cancers.

Petrol leak sparks health fears - National - theage.com.au

Ann St Bridge reopens in Williamstown

The Ann St pedestrian bridge over the disused Williamstown Pier railway line was reopened last week.

The historic structure, that is on the Victorian Heritage Register was removed 3 months ago and restored by the Emerald Tourist Railway Board, using their experience of heritage rail bridge restoration gained from running Puffing Billy.

The bridge has been long closed after it fell into dangerous disrepair since this section of the Williamstown line was decommissioned in 1987.

First built in 1883, restorers fixed the central span and rejuvenated the iron lacework.

See The Star for a picture.

Up, up & away

One of the most fun and interesting things to do in Williamstown isn't actually in Williamstown (for the most part).

A sea-plane scenic flight over Melbourne and beyond starts at Gem Pier, Williamstown. You can choose a 15 minute city skyline flight, a trip out to the Dandenongs or around Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula before heading back to Williamstown.

Visit Melbourne Seaplanes website for bookings and prices.

Timeball Tower - History

Here's a link to an interesting site about Lighthouses in Australia and an informative article about the Timeball Tower at Point Gellibrand in Williamstown.

There are historical pictures showing it's previous guises as well as how it looks today. It's an interesting read too.

Lighthouses of Australia Inc.

Cox's Garden

There are lots of charming old houses around Williamstown, some in original condition, but most of them have been renovated now and restored to better than their former glory.

Cox's Garden just behind Douglas Parade has this lovely old house with a wooden shingle roof and a creeping wisteria. It must have seen lots of changes over the years. The Cox's Garden cottage is being restored, but this one gives you a better idea of how the area must have felt years ago.

Williamstown Festival

The 30th Williamstown Festival runs on the weekend of the 23rd - 25th of March this year.

Just looking at the planned events and attractions, Williamstown will be packed. There will be free outdoor movies in Commonwealth Reserve provided by Sun Theatre, heaps of art and music events. The Williamstown Craft Market and the Producers Market will coincide with the Festival on the Sunday, with a dog fashion parade and carnival amusements and rides.

The Historical Reinactment Society of Victoria is even going to fire the cannon at John Morley Reserve on The Strand at 4pm Sunday.... Keep the dog indoors!

Here's the link to the official Williamstown Festival website.

Cyril Curtain Reserve

This tree is in Cyril Curtain Reserve on The Esplanade, between the Williamstown football ground and the beach. The way it and the one behind it are bent over shows how windy it can get here. These trees must have been subjected to strong winds for their entire life to be like this.

Cyril Curtain Reserve is a designated "off-leash" area, so it's a good place to take the dog for a walk or let them off the lead for a run. Plastic bags for cleaning up are provided here by the council in dispensers near the road, so there's no excuse for leaving any nasty signs of your dog's visit behind when you leave.

on the beach

These pictures were taken at Williamstown Beach.

St Marys Church

Views of St Marys Catholic Church in Cecil Street, Williamstown.

Williamstown - Melbourne's worst-kept secret.

It used to be a quiet bayside suburb that the rest of Melbourne thought was near Geelong. Now, everybody knows about the charms of Williamstown. It's changed a lot over the last 10 years too, while still retaining most of the best things about it.

Located about 14km from the city by road or train, it's a nice compromise between inner city and country town. Many of it's wide, tree-lined streets have a distinctive country feel about them, Electra Street for example.

The best views of Melbourne's skyline are to be had from The Strand, which runs along the foreshore up to the mouth of the Yarra at Newport. This area also has a bike/walking path and a large waterfront park and playing fields. Oh to have had the foresight to have bought one of the properties along here 10 years ago. I'm sure they would have at least tripled in price.

That was once the charm of Williamstown. That a person could live in arguably Melbourne's nicest suburb, surrounded by water, parks, and period charm for the same money as living in a non-descript middle distance eastern suburb. Of course, the last property boom put an end to all that and to live there now costs a lot more if you are just buying into the area.

Later, in this blog, I will write about various aspects of life in Williamstown that will hopefully be of interest to locals and visitors alike.