Altona - Melbourne

Altona is a south-western suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. Altona takes its name from the German city Altona.

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).
 

History

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.
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. 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.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.
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.
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.
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.This was merged into the City of Hobsons Bay in 1994 under local government amalgamations undertaken by the Kennett government.

Parks and gardens

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.

Education

Altona has three primary schools consisting of:

Altona Primary School - To see the Government School Performance Summary Click Here

Altona College - To see the Government School Performance Summary Click Here

St. Marys Catholic Primary School - To see the 2008 annual report Click Here

The secondary schools include:

Altona Secondary College

Mount St. Joseph Girls College - To see the 2008 annual report Click Here

Altona College.
 
Culture

Altona Bayside Festival is held annually to promote and celebrate Hobsons Bay and the western suburbs. It involves various activities during a weekend, including a street parade, arts and home craft exhibition, competitions, professional entertainers and fireworks. The 30th anniversary was held in 2007. The festival was previously known as Operation Recreation and some residents still refer to it by this name. 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 street parade is regularly interrupted by suburban passenger trains as they pass through nearby Altona station.

A spaghetti eating competition is staged by a local restaurateur in Pier Street each March.

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 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 to gain the title.

Industry

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. Also, just outside of Altona, is the Toyota car manufacturing plant. It is at this plant that Camry's and Aurion's are built, with 80% of the cars produced at this plant being for the world market.

PROPERTY

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