Williamstown Heritage Walk (Seaside)
This 3.7km walk, with optional 0.6km extension to Osborne Street and / or optional 0.6km extension to Williamstown beach, covers the historic Williamstown seaside area.
Begin at the Historical Society Museum, Electra Street. Proceed along Melbourne Road to Pasco Street, and turn left.
3.1 St Ayles, 72 Pasco Street.
Completed in 1891 for John Hansen an engineer.
3.2 Williamstown Grammar School and High School.
The Grammar School operated here from 1867-1914, with several closures and re-openings. The High School opened in 1915.
Cross Railway Place. Walk under railway and turn to the right along Railway Crescent. Proceed to Forster Street. Turn left
3.3 Williamstown Hospital, corner Forster and Railway Crescent.
Opened in 1892.
There is a milkbar near the hospital.
Walk Extension (Osborne Street).
Proceed to Osborne Street and turn to the left.
3.4 Workers' cottages, Osborne Street.
Gaunt's (or Alfred) Woollen Mills (established 1878) were located opposite these cottages.
Continue along Osborne Street
3.5 Botanic Gardens Gates.
Constructed in Glasgow 1905 for the entrance of 'Fairlie' the South Yarra Mansion. They were re-erected here in 1907.
3.6 Williamstown Botanic Gardens.
Created in 1860, remodelled in 1905 and recently restored. There are flying foxes resting in the trees in the north-east corner.
Walk through the gardens towards the sea.
3.7 Clark Statue.
A.T. Clark was a local member of parliament and proprietor of the Advertiser Newspaper.
Cross to beach front reserve and turn right towards building with round tower.
3.8 Williamstown Bathers' Pavilion.
Constructed in 1930s. A classic, and for Melbourne, a pioneering example of Moderne or De Stijl design.
There are toilets and water tap across the road in Fearon Reserve. The pavilion has a restaurant inside and a near-by rotunda sells fish and chips and ice-creams.
Turn back towards the east and proceed along Esplanade.
3.9 Pilots House, The Esplanade.
Look at numbers 19, 18 and 16. 16 is now the Convent of St. Joseph but was first built for Captain James Ogilvie in 1888, bought by Sisters of St. Joseph in 1927.
3.10 Ellerslie, corner of Cole and Esplanade.
This house was built in 1899 for James Gray a partner in the local firm Australian Forge and Engineering, a major shipbuilding and repair works. See further along the Esplanade to 12-13 Esplanade, built in 1858 for Captain Matthews, master of the Great Britain.
Return to Cole Street
3.11 73-75 Cole Street.
A two-storey pair built in 1859 from rough-cut [or rockfaced] basalt. First owned by a sailor and then by William Murrell, sea pilot.
Turn right into Osborne Street.
3.12 54 Osborne Street.
A mansion built in 1859 and lived in by sea captains; James Ogilvie and David Jones. Owned for a time by James Best, a member of the Pilots Board.
3.13 Former Bridge Hotel, corner of Thompson and Osborne Streets.
Built in 1868 and delicensed in the 1920s.
Turn left into Thompson Street and walk to the bridge our the railway
3.14 Williamstown Railway.
The oldest state railway in Victoria, begun in 1853, the line reached Williamstown Pier in 1859.The station buildings were completed in the same year.
Cross the bridge and turn left into Hamner Street
3.15 Rear St Andrew's Church and site of Former Manse.
At Cole Street, turn left and walk along the side road alongside bridge and leading to Railway Place.
3.16 Cole Street Cottages [see especially 52 Cole Street].
Built in 1872, and home to tenants including railway workers, sailors and a shipwright.
Return to Hanmer Sheet and turn to the left.
3.17 Former Market Reserve.
Original site of Williamstown Market.
Continue to Electra Street.
3.18 Morning Star Hotel, 3 Electra Street.
The first pub here was completed in 1869 and was replaced by the present building in 1889.
Continue along Electra Street to the Historical Society Museum.
Review:
Quite an interesting historical walk with the highlight being the Williamstown Botanic Gardens.
Photos:
Location
15 Electra Street, Williamstown 3016 Map
