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Pre European Settlement
2 Aboriginal groups lived in the area of Prt Phillip Bay. They were the Bunerong and Woiworung, together they formed the Kulin Nation. -
REFERECNES
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. -
European Settlement
In the 1030s European settlement begun in Williamstown.
Point Gellibrand was where the first permanent settlement was located in the Port Phillip district -
Port Harwood
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. -
First Pier
"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. -
Activity Around the Port
As a result of the gold rush, activity at the port grew as peopled passed through in order to get to the gold fields. -
Naval Yards
In the 1850s the Naval Dock Yards were estabilshed -
Growing
BY 1856, there was hotels, shops, residences, banks and churches built in Williamstown -
Botanical Gardens
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 -
Period: to
Fort Gellibrand
Over these three decades the development of Fort Gellibrand occured. -
Early Industry Estabilshed
Early industry was established continued including woollen mills, such as the Alfred Woollen Mill in Osborne St, which continued to operate until the 1930s. -
A Town
In 1886 Williamstown was proclaimed a town. -
Baths
The Williamstown Baths were built.
In 1902, the hot sea bath was added -
Ships
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 -
A CITY
In 1919 Williamstown was procliamed a city -
The Bridge
The West Gate Bridge was built. -
Dockyards
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.
