Altona, Victoria

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Altona Melbourne, Victoria
Main street of Altona
Altona
Population:	9,685 (2006)[1]
Postcode:	3018
Area:	16.9 km² (6.5 sq mi)
Location:	13 km (8 mi) from Melbourne
LGA:	City of Hobsons Bay
State electorate:	Altona, Williamstown
Federal Division:	Gellibrand
Suburbs around Altona: Laverton North Altona North Newport Altona Meadows Altona Seaholme and Williamstown Altona Meadows Port Phillip Port Phillip

Altona is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district.^[2][3][4] Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Altona had a population of 9685.

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).

Altona takes its name from the then independent German city of Altona^[5] which is today a borough of Hamburg.

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.^{[citation needed]}

Altona was first permanently settled in 1842, with the construction of The Homestead by Alfred Langhorne. The name 'Altona' first appeared on maps in 1861.^[5] It was named by a German man named Taegtow, who hailed from Altona in Hamburg. Taegtow believed that coal was to be found in the area, and in 1881 he formed the Williamstown (Taegtow) Prospecting Company.^[5] 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.

Historical mural for Altona Village Traders Association; artist: Vladimir Bukovec (2006)

On 20 February 1911 J J Hammond flew the first cross country flight between towns in Australia from Altona Bay to Geelong in Victoria, and on 23 February, also at Altona Bay in Victoria, he undertook the first powered passenger flight in Australia.^[6]

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.

By 1918 the population was sufficient to justify a Post Office which opened on 14 January 1918.^[7]

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 1862 Altona was a town in the Shire of Werribee, but in 1957, the Altona Riding of the Shire, which included Altona itself as well as Altona North and Altona Meadows, was incorporated, and became the City of Altona in 1968.^[8] This was merged into the City of Hobsons Bay in 1994 under local government amalgamations undertaken by the Kennett government.

On 24 June 2010, Altona became home to Australia's first female Prime Minister. Julia Gillard, an Altona resident, who was voted by the governing Australian Labor Party as its leader, making her Australia's 27th Prime Minister. Gillard said that she would not move into The Lodge until she was elected to the role of Prime Minister by the Australian people.^[9]

Parks and gardens

P.A. Burns Reserve and Altona Coastal Park shoreline

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.

Altona Beach promenade (known as the Esplanade) and Altona Pier

• Kororoit Creek
• Cherry Lake
• Altona Coastal Park
• Truganina Coastal Parklands

Education

Altona has three primary schools consisting of Altona Primary School, Altona College, and St. Marys Catholic Primary School. The secondary schools include Mount St. Joseph Girls' College and Altona College (Altona Secondary College changed their name in 2007).

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.

The Altona Beach Festival is a free event held annually at the Logan Reserve precinct, (located on the Esplanade and includes the Logan Reserve parklands, part of Pier Street and the Esplanade), to promote and celebrate Hobsons Bay and the western suburbs. It involves various activities, including a twilight street parade, beach market, double-decker bus tour, professional entertainers, RAAF fly-overs and fireworks off the Altona Pier. Now in its second year, the Altona Beach Festival was previously known as the Bayside Festival and also Operation Recreation and some residents may still refer to it by these names. The 30th anniversary of the festival was held in 2007. It enjoyed a brief period of heightened prominence in 2002 when it was featured on the Channel 9 travel program Postcards in a segment hosted by Geoff Cox. The festival is easily accessed by buses and suburban passenger trains as it is just a few minutes walk away from the Altona station. Scouts Australia is a major feature of the parade and the many community activities that take place close to the beautiful beach front.

The Altona City Theatre is a production company based in the Altona Civic Theatre, producing two major musicals and a smaller pantomime annually. The pantomime coincides with the Bayside Festival and was originally intended as an outlet for young directors.

Scouts Australia has two groups in Altona. The 1st Altona Scout Group runs from the Scout Hall. The 4th Altona Scout Group are located at the Pines, an old camp owned by the City of Hobsons Bay.

Sport

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

Altona is represented by many teams but most popular^{[citation needed]} is Altona Magic. The team currently competes in the Victorian State League Division 1 which is the third tier in Australia behind the A-League and the Victorian Premier League.

Another popular^{[citation needed]} team is Altona City. This side plays in Victorian State League Division 2 N/W.

The suburb has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Western Region Football League.^[10]

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 for the title.

Golfers play at the course of the Kooringal Golf Club on Wilga Avenue.^[11]

Additionally, the area of the beach directly west of Altona Pier is one of Melbourne's most popular spots for kitesurfing.

Transport

The three train stations in Altona are Altona, Westona and Seaholme, each of which is on the Werribee railway line. Melbourne bus routes 411, 412, 415, and 903 also services the area.

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

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

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.

Just outside of Altona is the Toyota Australia Altona Plant. It is at this plant that Camrys and Aurions are built, with 80% of the cars produced at this plant being for the world market.

See also

• City of Altona - the former local government area of the same name.

References

External links

Coordinates: 37°52′05″S 144°49′48″E / 37.868°S 144.830°E / -37.868; 144.830