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2 Aboriginal groups lived in the area of Prt Phillip Bay. They were the Bunerong and Woiworung, together they formed the Kulin Nation.
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Hobsons Bay City Council 2009, Williamstown Neighbourhood Profile, Hobsons Bay City Council, retrieved 12th April, < http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/files/43f5f2ab-c0ea-4a7e-92e5-9fdb00ccd750/WilliamstownHistoryandDevelopment.pdf>. See reference doc submitted for rest of the references. **Please Note; all dates did not occur on January 1st there is just no option to only select a year.
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In the 1030s European settlement begun in Williamstown.
Point Gellibrand was where the first permanent settlement was located in the Port Phillip district -
John Bateman first named the settlement Port Harwood.
It was changed to Williamstown not long after. It was renamed after King William IV, the reining monarch of the time. -
"Initially, Williamstown was the major port of Melbourne" (Honsons Bay City Counsil, 2009).
Williamstowns first Pier was built in 1836.
It was used to to carry people to melbourne by ferry.
The pier has been rebuilt mant times.
It is now known as Gem Pier. -
As a result of the gold rush, activity at the port grew as peopled passed through in order to get to the gold fields.
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In the 1850s the Naval Dock Yards were estabilshed
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BY 1856, there was hotels, shops, residences, banks and churches built in Williamstown
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Thw Williamstown Botanical Gardens were designed by Edward La Trobe and building began.
These gardens w"ere one of the earliest to be established in Victoria" (Hobsons Bay City Council, 2009).
Some of the original elements from the 1860 design are still there.
Changes in the 20th century include;
- Ornamental Lake
- Palm Avenus
- New Gates on the NE corner -
Over these three decades the development of Fort Gellibrand occured.
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Early industry was established continued including woollen mills, such as the Alfred Woollen Mill in Osborne St, which continued to operate until the 1930s.
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In 1886 Williamstown was proclaimed a town.
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The Williamstown Baths were built.
In 1902, the hot sea bath was added -
In the early 1900s, the Commonwealth Governement:
- Commitioned a number of ships to replace those lost in WWI
- Sold the dock yards to the Melbourne Habour Trust in the 20s
- Then bought them back to meet ship building needs as a result of WWII -
In 1919 Williamstown was procliamed a city
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The West Gate Bridge was built.
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After having several owners the dockyards are now owned by the BAE. They play an important strategic role as a military ship builderand are one of the cities largest employers.
