Punt Hill Williamstown

Williamstown

by taznanna

We came here when we took a cruise up the Yarra from Melbourne, it was a nice ride. Williamstown is such a pretty place and weirdly enough, quiet, and I love how there's still old buildings around. The park is a pretty place to sit around with anyone and have a nice picnic, and it's big enough to have your own space, right on the Yarra River.

You also get a great view of Melbourne City.

Known as Willy to its friends

by SPW

Williamstown:
Proud of its historical roots, both a working man's suburb and a rich man's home;
Old and new mixed in a sometimes uncomfortable blend;
Highly desirable residential area with remanants of industry;
Close to the city but with the feel of a country town;
Closely populated yet with wonderful natural areas;
Williamstown: my home.

"Melbourne'e first seaport"

Point Gellibrand, the extreme of the peninsula where Williamstown is found, was the scene of the first permanent settlement of Melbourne in 1835. Other attempts at settlement in the area eg Sorrento and Corinella had failed, and Henty had only recently established his whaling station/home at Portland in the southwest of state. After initial surveying visits from Tasmania (Van Dieman's Land) permanent settlers finally arrived in the Port Phillip district. Nothing now remains of the original tents and huts but a grassy park and a marker for the site of the earliest graveyard. The Yarra river on which Melbourne sits was shallow and difficult for vessels of any size to negotiate so they moored off Pt. Gellibrand and either went upstream by a smaller boat or made their way overland.