Overview of Hobsons Bay
Hobsons Bay was created on 22 June 1994 following the amalgamation of the former Cities of Williamstown and Altona with parts of Laverton and South Kingsville.
Find out more about the history of Hobsons Bay.
Hobsons Bay is situated on Port Phillip Bay around 10 kilometres west of central Melbourne. It covers an area of approximately 66 square kilometres.
Hobsons Bay has more than 20 kilometres of bay frontage, quality residential areas, a huge expanse of environmentally significant open space and a range of major industrial complexes, which contribute significantly to the economy of Victoria.
These features contribute to the City's culture, which is strongly linked to its maritime heritage, environment, industry and lifestyle.
Traditional owners of the land
The Aboriginal people who lived in what we now know as the City of Hobsons Bay are known as the Yalukit Wilum, a name meaning ‘river camp’ or ‘river dwellers’. The Yalukit Wilum are associated with the coastal land at the head of Port Phillip Bay that extends from the Werribee River, across to Williamstown, Port Melbourne, St Kilda and Prahran.
The language of the Melbourne people includes three dialects, and is part of a group of related languages collectively known as the Kulin group of languages, or the Kulin Nation. The Boon wurrung is the dialect and clan of the area known as Hobsons Bay.
The environment
Hobsons Bay has a rich natural environment, which includes over 20 kilometres of beaches and foreshore areas, significant wetlands, five creek systems, remnant native grasslands and other important flora and fauna habitat areas. This diversity and breadth of habitats is unique in an area so close to Melbourne.
Hobsons Bay's suburbs each have their own unique character, reflecting architectural styles which range from pre-Victorian heritage buildings in the east of the municipality, through to modern residential estates in the west.
Commerce & industry
Hobsons Bay is home to Victoria's chemical and petroleum industries and contains some of the state's largest industrial enterprises.
The local economy includes a growing number of manufacturing, transport and goods distribution companies and a large number of light industries and service industries.
There are a number of retail precincts located around the City including:
- Altona Gate Shopping Centre, Altona North
- Pier Street, Altona
- Nelson Place, Ferguson Street and Douglas Parade, Williamstown
- Central Square, Altona Meadows
- Harrington Square, Altona
- Mason Street, Newport
- Aviation Road, Laverton
Future growth
The city is located 7-20 kilometres from the CBD and has good access to regional transport facilities such as the West Gate Freeway, the Western Ring Road, CityLink, the National Rail Line, together with the ports and airports of Melbourne and Avalon.
The Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme supports the state government's Plan Melbourne 2017 - 2050 Strategy – a vision and planning strategy for Melbourne to manage urban growth over the next 35 years.
Council has aligned much of its local planning policy frameworks with the direction of the strategy. The challenge is to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, while ensuring they are balanced with environmental, amenity and heritage priorities.
Hobsons Bay is an established municipality with limited undeveloped land suitable for residential use. As guided by Plan Melbourne and Hobsons Bay’s Industrial Land Management Strategy 2008, much of the city’s future residential growth will be accommodated in activity centres with good access to public transport and infrastructure and within strategic redevelopment areas.