Hobson's Bay Coastal Hike

Hobson's Bay Coastal Hike

31st January 2O19 

U3A Hike No 58. 14km

 By Frances Watt

Our group came to the Altona/Williamstown area with various degrees of familiarity.  Some with very little knowledge of this area, however by the time we reached the cars left at Williamstown station, we all had a greater understanding of the geography and history of the area as well as the natural features.  Gordon’s usual excellent research and his, Andrew’s and Ingrid’s personal reminiscences, combined with the many information boards, enlightened us all.

Blustery winds propelled us along the foreshore of Altona Beach and through the salt marshes of the Altona Coastal Park. In the distance we could see the city skyline and the black swans in the foreground were the first indication of the many birds observed throughout the walk.  Further along, especially in the wetlands, along the Kororoit creek and in the Jawbone Sanctuary Park, we saw many more swans, ducks, cormorants, herons and spoonbills to cite just a few.  There were also several bird hides along the route.

As we walked Andrew pointed out places of significance from when he was growing up in the area - such as the dog beach, the Workers Club, the various ovals and the Williamstown Racecourse stand. We stopped at the remains of the stand for morning tea. The racecourse where once Phar Lap ran, had three stands. Possible rivalries resulted in one stand burning down and the racecourse was ultimately abandoned after WW2. There is still one impressive palm tree left of its grounds but little else.  Gordon showed us illustrations of the racecourse in its heyday.

Moving on, most of us waded barefoot over the ford and past a more industrial area, more wetlands and into the Jawbone Sanctuary Park.  Apart from the industry and racecourse, we also learnt of the 19^th century infectious diseases hospital quaintly named the Cut-Paw-Paw Sanitorium, the historic rifle range and the small manmade boat harbour (painted by John Percival).  We also walked past the anglers’ huts and clubhouses and, in contrast, the modern housing estates dubbed ‘Legotown’. 

We stopped at the Williamstown Beach for lunch before strolling along the Esplanade with its beautiful houses, many in past years occupied by the sea captains and pilots who worked on the bay.  Before long we reached Point Gellibrand, a site of historical significance to early settlers, seeing there the convict quarry (where Ned Kelly was once put to work), guns and reading about the hulks moored off shore and used to incarcerate prisoners as young as nine.  A more satisfying discovery was of the middens left by Aboriginal inhabitants and the natural wonder of the lava blister on the shoreline.

  

Finally, the timeball tower, (which signalled noon each day by the dropping of the 'time ball') once a lighthouse, came into view and we walked along paths, formerly railway lines, towards the street where we had left the cars parked that morning.  Thank you very much to Gordon for his leadership and for sharing his family photographs with us too.  It was fascinating to see the old photographs of the women with guns on their laps and his grandfather dressed in his suit while taking his children to the beach.

 Williamstown Racecourse in it's heyday

 Grandstand burned down in suspicious circumstances.

 

Gordon's Grandmother Evelyn Bird Front Row 3rd from left

Gordon hiking past the houses built on the site of the former Williamstown Rifle Range where the previous photo of his grandmother was taken

Small harbour as depicted in the following painting by John Percival

'Gannets Diving' by John Percival

Gordon's Grandfather dressed for a day at the beach (with Gordon's uncle and aunt) around 1937.

Prison Quarry where Ned Kelly was once put to work