West Melbourne, Victoria
| West Melbourne Melbourne, Victoria | |||||||||||||||
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.jpg) West Melbourne - Flagstaff Gardens bottom left corner - 2013 | |||||||||||||||
  West Melbourne Location in metropolitan Melbourne | |||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 37°48′29″S 144°55′37″E / 37.808°S 144.927°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 8,025 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1,254/km2 (3,248/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3003 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 6.4 km2 (2.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 2 km (1 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Melbourne | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Melbourne | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Melbourne | ||||||||||||||
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West Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km (1.2 mi) north-west of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. West Melbourne recorded a population of 8,025 at the 2021 census.[1]
The locality includes two distinct parts: the densely developed residential /industrial area located on the northwest edge of the CBD, and a much larger western section dominated by rail yards and port facilities. The former area is most closely associated with the West Melbourne name, and is bounded by La Trobe Street to the south, with Peel Street and the Flagstaff Gardens helping to form the eastern boundary, by Victoria Street to the north, and by the Sunbury/Werribee railway lines to the west. Beyond the rail lines the larger port and rail area is bounded by the Yarra River to the south, a short boundary following the Moonee Ponds Creek to the east, then the sweep of the rail lines, to the Maribyrnong River which forms the west boundary. This larger area includes the locality of Coode Island.
This larger portion of West Melbourne is occupied by the Swanson and Appleton Docks the Dynon Railway Yards, It also contains an increasing number of residential and commercial properties, consisting of a mixture of Victorian single and double storey terrace houses and converted warehouses at the north-west corner of the Melbourne CBD. It is also adjacent to the Queen Victoria Market, located on the east of Peel Street and to the south of Victoria Street.
History
[edit]The denseley developed residential / industrial section of West Melbourne was settled early in the city's history. The streets west to Adderley Street were subdivided in the early years. Further to the west lay the West Melbourne Swamp which attracted noxious trades, such as slaughter yards and boiling-down works.
St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church, on the brow of a dominant hill in Victoria Street, was built between 1891 and 1900, and is a major landmark. Festival Hall, built in 1915 on Dudley Street, became Melbourne's main venue for boxing and wrestling. One of Australia's most famous citizens, the soldier-engineer General Sir John Monash, was born in West Melbourne on 27 June 1865.[2]
West Melbourne Post Office opened on 1 March 1937 and was replaced by the Queen Vic Market Newsagency office in 1990, which closed in 1996.[3]
Population
[edit]In the 2016 census, there were 5,515 people in West Melbourne. 42.3% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were China 7.4%, India 4.9%, South Korea 4.5%, Malaysia 3.7% and New Zealand 2.6%. 45.4% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 10.0%, Korean 4.3%, Cantonese 3.5% and Spanish 2.0%. The most common response for religion was No Religion at 44.8%.[4]
Transport
[edit]
The North Melbourne railway station is actually located in West Melbourne, opposite the Railway Hotel on Ireland Street.
- 220 Sunshine - Gardenvale passes along Dudley Street operated by Kinetic Melbourne
- 401 North Melbourne – University of Melbourne via Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne (Monday to Friday), operated by Transit Systems Victoria
A number of tram routes run along the periphery of the suburb, along Victoria Street:
- Route 30: St Vincent's Plaza – Docklands
- Route 57: West Maribyrnong – Flinders Street station
- Route 58: Toorak – West Coburg
- City Circle
Culture
[edit]Churches
[edit]
- West Melbourne Baptist
- St Mary Star of the Sea, West Melbourne Catholic
- St James Old Cathedral (Melbourne's oldest cathedral, built in 1842)
- St Mary's Anglican
Entertainment venue
[edit]Parks and gardens
[edit]- Flagstaff Gardens
- The Triangle Park (bounded by King Street, Chetwynd Street, Eades Place)
- The Pocket Park (bounded by William, Howard and Rosslyn Streets)
Localities
[edit]North of the railway lines
[edit]The area bounded by Railway Parade and Spencer Street has undergone significant change since 2000. While the region has always been mixed industry and residential, the industrial flavour of the area has diminished rapidly, as West Melbourne's population increases with the construction of apartments including many high rise. In Dryburgh, Laurens, Ireland, Stanley and Adderley Streets, the majority of the older warehouses have been converted to townhouse developments.
Shopping
[edit]West Melbourne lays claim to the southern side of Victoria Street, meaning that a small range of restaurants and shops lie within its boundaries. Otherwise it has no shopping area of its own. However the Direct Factory Outlet development on Spencer Street in the CBD, and Errol Street, North Melbourne are just outside the boundary of West Melbourne.
Port and rail facilities
[edit]Coode Island is a locality in West Melbourne's industrial zone. It is unusual in that although it is a locality of West Melbourne, with the creation of Melbourne Docklands and the Bolte Bridge, the area has become completely disconnected from the main area of the suburb.
It is the site of Victoria's major petrochemical storage facility. The area is named after engineer John Coode and retains the "Island" name, despite no longer being an island.
The strip of land along the north of Footscray Road was home to the Melbourne Markets from teh 1950s to 2015. These included the Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable and Fish Markets, as well as the National Flower Centre. There area also industrial sites along the Maribyrnong.
Gallery
[edit]-
Coode Island viewed from the west -
Aerial view of eastern commercial and residential section of West Melbourne looking south toward Melbourne CBD and Docklands. North Melbourne railway station and railyards are at right
References
[edit]- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "West Melbourne (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ School of Historical Studies, Department of History. "West Melbourne - Place - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online". www.emelbourne.net.au. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "West Melbourne (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
