museums - city of hobsons bay · 2019. 3. 20. · newport railway museum champion road, newport...

Explore Hobsons Bay during the Australian Heritage Festival. Discover history and heritage from waterfront Williamstown, the original port of Melbourne, to the 176-year-old Altona Homestead built by the Langhorne family. Join us for a program of events; including guided walking tours, exhibitions and open days that tell some of our unique heritage stories.

For further information visit hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/heritagehobsonsbay or call the Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre on 9932 4310

Most events are free and bookings are via heritagehobsonsbay.eventbrite.com unless stated.

#heritagehobsonsbay

18 April – 19 May 2019Part of the Australian Heritage Festival

Altona Homestead

Logan Reserve, Altona. Open Tuesdays, 11am to 2pm, Saturdays (except first Saturday of the month), 10am to 12pm and first Sunday of the month, 11am to 4pm. alhs.com.au

Enterprize Tall Ship

Gem Pier, Syme St, Williamstown. Visit website to confirm sailing times and bookings. enterprize.org.au

HMAS Castlemaine Museum Ship

Gem Pier, Syme St, Williamstown. Open weekends and public holidays, 11am to 4pm. hmascastlemaine.org.au

Newport Railway Museum

Champion Road, Newport Open Saturdays, 12pm to 5pm. arhsvic.org.au/museum

Scienceworks

2 Booker St, Spotswood. Open daily, 10am to 4pm. museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks

Seaworks Maritime Museum

82 Nelson Place, Williamstown. Open Friday, Sunday and Wednesday, 11am to 2pm. seaworks.com.au

St John Library and Museum

Corner of The Esplanade and Garden Street, Williamstown. Open Thursdays and Sundays, 10am to 4pm. stjohnvic.com.au

Williamstown Historical Society Museum

Currently closed for renovations. For research enquiries email [email protected]

Museums in Hobsons Bay

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page11768266

J. THE GOVERNOR (Sir Arthur Stanley) OPENING THE TOWN HALL. 2. THE NEW TOWN HALL.

4. READING THE PROCLAMATION. 3. THE GOVERNOR ADDRESSING THE CITIZENS. 5. A SECTION OF THE CROWD.

DECLARING WILLIAMSTOWN (A SUBURB OF MELBOURNE) A CITY, AND OPENING THE NEW TOWN HALL, ON SATURDAY, MAY 17.

At the same time he unveiled a collective photographic in memory of local servicemen killed during World War One and officially opened the new Town Hall. The Governor was presented with a leather bound proclamation and asked to sign the parchment. The official birth of the city was celebrated by 2000 residents.

The beginning of Williamstown was as a municipal borough, created in 1856 and incorporating Newport and Spotswood, although they were sparsely populated until the 1880s. The borough was proclaimed a town in 1886 before becoming a city in 1919.

The current photographic honour board was unveiled in 1924 and was recently restored. More information can be found on it sonsofwilliamstown.com.au

A program to celebrate Williamstown 100 Years a City is part of Heritage Hobsons Bay.

2019 marks 100 years since Williamstown became a city. The city was proclaimed by His Excellency the State Governor, the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley on 17 May 1919.

Digitising the past: 3D Scanning Workshop

Presented by Hobsons Bay Libraries

Thursday 9 May, 6pm to 8pm

Williamstown Library, 104 Ferguson Street, Williamtown

Do you have items of historical significance? Bring them along and learn the basics of scanning objects into 3D. Get started with photogrammetry and discuss the best ways to begin editing, viewing and sharing your 3D models.

Bookings essential libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or call 1300 462 542

Maritime Talk and Slide Show

Presented by Williamstown Historical Society and Williamstown Maritime Association

Thursday 9 May, 6pm

Pirates Tavern (rear of Seaworks), 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown

Speakers will present various aspects of maritime life and the effects it had on trade, convicts, the Victorian gold rush, export of wheat and shipbuilding. View the maritime photos and objects on display at the Pirates Tavern. The bar will be open.

Bookings essential heritagehobsonsbay.eventbrite.com

Children: Then and Now

Williamstown Historical Society

Sunday 12 May, 2.30pm to 4.30pm

Williamstown Library, 104 Ferguson Street, Williamstown

Find out what it was like to be a child in the early days of Williamstown. What was school like? What were homes like? Did children go to work? Come along and join in activities that will demonstrate the difference between then and now. Suitable for all ages, especially families and children. Drop in at any time during the session.

No bookings required

Williamstown Town Hall Centenary Tour and Morning Tea

Monday 13 May, 9.30am to 12pm

Williamstown Town Hall, 104 Ferguson Street, Williamstown

Enjoy a 100th anniversary tour of the recently restored front building of the Williamstown Town Hall. Learn about the history of the building and the role that it has played in the local community over the years. The tour will be followed by a morning tea in the Chamber.

Bookings essential hobsonsbaytickets.com $18 includes tour, morning tea and complimentary champagne

Williamstown Centenary Projection Tour

Friday 17 May, 6pm and 7.30pm Saturday 18 May, 6pm and 7.30pm

Meet at Williamstown Town Hall, 104 Ferguson Street, Williamstown

On 17 May 1919, Williamstown was proclaimed a city by the State Governor, Sir Arthur Stanley during a visit to the newly completed Town Hall. One hundred years later, you are invited to join us on a night time tour of the surrounding streets to discover stories of Williamstown’s past.


Cultural Day

Boon Wurrung Foundation and 4th Williamstown Sea Scouts

Sunday 19 May, 11am to 2pm

4th Williamstown Sea Scouts, The Strand (opposite Stevedore Street) Williamstown

Come along to a day of cultural learning and fun with the traditional owners of the Strand foreshore and countryside, the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. There will be a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, free Bush/BBQ, tours of the 1920’s boatshed and the 1940’s scout hall and the official naming of the SSS Gurrong. The word Gurrong means canoe in Boon Wurrung language and permission has been granted for use to foster a deeper understanding of our shared histories.


70 Years of Mobil in Altona

In 2019, the Mobil Altona Refinery is celebrating 70 years of operations – 70 years of fuelling Victoria.

Learn more about the enduring legacy of Altona Refinery and the upcoming program of events to celebrate Mobil’s long-term contribution to jobs, economic growth and opportunity in Melbourne’s west: www.mobil.com.au/communitynews

Memories of Williamstown Town Hall: 100 Years a City Exhibition


Thursday 18 April to Sunday 19 May, during library opening hours


We asked the community to share their fondest memories of the historic Williamstown Town Hall through stories, photographs and ephemera resulting in a snapshot of the social history of a city.


Newport Archives

Presented by The Substation

Available Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm

The Substation, 1 Market Street, Newport

Newport Archives is an audio tour, which explores The SUBSTATION’s own building and surrounding landmarks in Newport. Equipped with an mp3 player as their guide, participants walk unaccompanied through Newport’s streets in a journey that uncannily knits the present with past memories.

Newport Archives is available by appointment.

Bookings essential [email protected]

Ada Cambridge Walking Tour

In partnership with Williamstown Literary Festival 2019

Wednesday 24 April, 11am Sunday 28 April, 10am

Meet at Ada Cambridge Forecourt, Williamstown Town Hall, 104 Ferguson Street, Williamstown

Join WillyLitFest and walk a mile in the shoes of Ada Cambridge. Author, poet and autobiographer, Ada was a woman ahead of her time. Spend an hour taking in the air and view the world of Cambridge, her life at the vicarage on Nelson Place and her well-worn paths of Williamstown.


Step Back In Time - Williamstown Guided Walking Tour

Tuesdays and Fridays, 11.45am to 12.45pm

Meet at the Visitor Information Centre, Commonwealth Reserve, Cnr Syme Street and Nelson Place, Williamstown

Step back in time and unlock the secrets of the historic waterfront and seaport of Williamstown with free guided heritage walking tours.

Bookings essential hobsonsbaytickets.com.au or call 9932 4310

Spotswood Industrial Heritage Tour

Wednesday 24 April, 9.30am to 1pm

Meet at Scienceworks, 2 Booker Street, Spotswood

The tour includes a visit to the Pumping Station at Scienceworks, and uses the Museum Victoria Spotswood Industrial Tour App. Non-app users are also welcome to attend.

Bookings essential heritagehobsonsbay.eventbrite.com or call 9932 4310

ANZAC Day Cemetery Tour

Presented by Friends of Williamstown Cemetery

Thursday 25 April, 11am

Meet at the Main Gates, Williamstown Cemetery, Champion Road, North Williamstown

Visit the Williamstown Cemetery and be guided around graves and memorials of our local service people. You are welcome to bring a small posy of flowers to lay on a grave of your choice.


Point Gellibrand Walking Tour

In partnership with Parks Victoria

Saturday 27 April, walking tours at 11am and 1pm

Meet at the Timeball Tower, Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park, Williamstown

Join Parks Victoria rangers and local historians to discover the fascinating history of Williamstown’s Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park. Including indigenous cultural heritage, convict stories, military defences, post-colonial settlement and the natural history of the area, the walking tour will focus on the diversity of stories presented across this significant landscape. Timeball Tower (ground level only) open to visitors from 11am to 2pm.


Paint the Gardens

In partnership with the Friends of Williamstown Botanic Gardens

Sunday 28 April, 11am to 4pm

Williamstown Botanic Gardens, Osborne Street, Williamstown

Bring a picnic to the beautiful, heritage listed Williamston Botanic Gardens and enjoy this popular outdoor exhibition showcasing the talents of local artists. Paint the Gardens is a great family day out, with free art workshops, musical entertainment and tours.


Seaworks Museum Tour

Presented by Williamstown Historical Society and Williamstown Maritime Museum

Sunday 28 April, tours at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Seaworks, 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown

The Seaworks Maritime Museum has a huge array of models and seafaring items including models of the

Williamstown Ferry and the Gellibrand Pile light, made by a local historian Cliff Gibson. Includes a tour of Melbourne’s first morgue.

Bookings essential heritagehobsonsbay.eventbrite.com Gold coin donation

The ANZAC Billy: Book Launch with Claire Saxby


Monday 29 April, 12pm to 1pm

Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre, Central Square Shopping Centre, 2 Newham Way, Altona Meadows

During the First World War, children helped gather supplies to send to the Australian troops for Christmas. Join award-winning author, Claire Saxby, as she launches her brand new picture book The ANZAC Billy. Find out about how local families supported those serving overseas by sending ANZAC billies to the war front. Children in grades one to four are invited to share in this magical tale and participate in a writing response activity.

School bookings essential [email protected] or call 1300 462 542

Back Lanes of Williamstown

Wednesday 1 May, 10am to 11.30am

Meet at the Visitor Information Centre, Commonwealth Reserve, Cnr Syme Street and Nelson Place, Williamstown

Join local historian Brian Haynes for a walking tour of the back lanes and streets behind Nelson Place in Williamstown and gain a different perspective of the heritage of the area.


Preservation - Jack Serong


Thursday 2 May, 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Williamstown Library, 104 Ferguson Street, Williamtown

Based on the true story of the wreck of the Sydney Cove, master storyteller Jock Serong turns his talent to historical narrative. Come and discover the truth of the wreck.

Bookings essential libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or call 1300 462 542

Journey to the Dead Centre of Town: Williamstown Cemetery Bus Tour

In partnership with Friends of Williamstown Cemetery

Saturday 4 May, 10am and 1.30pm

Meet at the Main Gates, Williamstown Cemetery, Champion Road, North Williamstown

Join the Friends of Williamstown Cemetery on a local bus tour and hear fascinating stories of tragedy and intrigue whilst stopping to look at various historical sites, including the old morgue and the original 1842 burial ground. After a refreshment break the tour will continue past local hotels connected to early inquests and conclude at Williamstown Cemetery to view the largest mass grave in Australia.

Bookings essential heritagehobsonsbay.eventbrite.com $12 (includes refreshments)

The Message Tree

Yalukit Marnang

Saturday 4 May, 3pm to 5pm

Joan Kirner House, 14 Thompson Street, Williamstown

Informal gathering to share research relating to two important histories from

Thompson Street, Williamstown shared with the Boon Wurrung, the First Peoples of Hobsons Bay. This event will include a short walk and an open discussion.

Bookings preferred heritagehobsonsbay.eventbrite.com

Family Art Workshop

Saturday 4 May 2019, 9.15am to 12.15pm

Woods Street Arts Space, 44 Woods Street, Laverton

Join Little Art Big Art for a creative family art workshop inspired by local history and heritage.

Bookings essential heritageart.eventbrite.com

Altona Homestead Ghost Tour

Presented by Lantern Ghost Tours

Saturday 4 May, 8.30pm to 10pm

Visit one of Australia’s original homesteads. Built by the Langhorne family, the homestead has long had a reputation for hauntings and paranormal investigations.

Bookings essential lanternghosttours.com or 1300 390 119 Charges apply

Ghosts of the Old City Williamstown

Presented by Lantern Ghost Tours

Various dates

Explore King William’s Town by lamplight, the original capital of Victoria.

Bookings essential lanternghosttours.com or 1300 390 119 Charges apply

Truganina Explosives Reserve Open Day and Picnic

In partnership with Truganina Explosives Reserve Preservation Society and Inner West Branch of the National Trust

Sunday 5 May, 11am to 4pm

Truganina Explosives Reserve, Queen Street, Altona

Join a guided tour and discover the remnants of the historic Explosives Reserve and learn about the indigenous plants in the area. Take a self-guided walk through the historic houses and browse the historic documents collection. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens.


Connecting Back to Childhood

Presented by Altona-Laverton Historical SocietyTuesdays, 11am to 2pm Saturdays, 10am to 12pm Sunday 5 May, 10.30am to 2.30pm (Devonshire Tea)

Altona Homestead, Logan Reserve, Altona

Oh to be a kid again, when times were simpler and there was just your imagination to keep you entertained. Step back in time at Altona Homestead and take a peek at games, toys and activities that provided entertainment in years gone by.

No bookings required Gold coin donation

Heritage Help

Presented by Hobsons Bay LibrariesWednesday 24 April and Tuesday 7 May, sessions between 10am to 12.15pm

Monday 13 May and Friday 17 May, sessions between 1.30pm to 3.30pm


If you’re new to family history and would like a few pointers to get started, why not book a free 45 minute one-on-one introductory session with a member of the library heritage team?

Bookings essential [email protected] or call 1300 462 542

museums - city of hobsons bay · 2019. 3. 20. · newport railway museum champion road, newport...

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