429. Williamstown to Newmarket 12.8km

 U3A Huke No 429




Hike Report by Sharon

13 happy hikers made their way to Williamstown under cloudy but promising skies.


This was a walk with great diversity …significant history with multiple information boards throughout the walk, a lovely coastal stroll, delightful, shady paths through native gardens &   wetland areas, meanwhile constantly on the lookout for cyclists of which there were many! The whistles were put to good use!


Williamstown has a rich maritime, engineering, and cultural history. Indigenous Australians occupied the area long before the 1st European arrived in 1803. Williamstown boomed during the mid 19th century with the influx of gold miners, many of Cornish descent. By 1870 Williamstown was known as the major cargo port of Victoria. 


Our walk along Hobsons Bay took us past the Timeball Tower built in 1940 as a lighthouse, on past Fort Gellibrand, a previous quarry where convicts, including Ned Kelly were put to work.


Continuing our walk, we passed under the Westgate bridge pausing at the memorial plaque commemorating the lives of the 35 workers killed when part of the bridge collapsed in 1970. 

We were impressed by the new parklands / wetlands area created adjacent to the Westgate Tunnel. Impressive, colorful architecture & landscape design pleasing to see.


A welcome lunch was enjoyed in the lovely Yarraville Botanic Gardens. 


Our walk then took us along the Maribyrnong River past the Buddhist Temple & Heavenly Queen Statue. The area along the river has been beautifully maintained with prolific plantings, including many natives. Callistemon & peppercorn trees at their peak. The disused railway line is now a colorful garden bed.

Next stop Kensington, where Gordon posed outside his previous home, enlightening us with much of the local history.


Our final history lesson was at the site of the Newmarket Sale Yards which closed in 1987. These sale yards operated for 130 years trading in cattle & sheep. The saleyards were handed back to the state government to be redeveloped into private & public housing estates.  Relics of the saleyards are still evident with many enclosures now housing community vegetable gardens.


Back to Southern Cross after a great urban walk 


Thank you to Gordon & Andrew for all the thoughtful organisation.




Photos by Andrew


As there were numerous plaques and information boards along this route, I have put them on a separate page. Link below.










































LINKS

INTERACTIVE MAP

GPX FILE

THIS HIKE IN 2022

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