Footscray, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong
. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401.
Footscray is characterised by a very diverse, multicultural
central shopping area, which reflects the successive waves of immigration
experienced by Melbourne
, and by Footscray in particular. Once a centre for Italian and former Yugoslavian migrants, it is now a hub for Vietnamese, and increasingly, East African immigrants in Melbourne.
Footscray is named after Foots Cray
, a locality in south-east London on the River Cray.
The first European to visit the area was Charles Grimes in 1803. A park, where he landed, is named after him at Napier St.
British settlers began to settle the land in the 1830s and the local Aboriginal community in the Maribyrnong area was reduced by killer European diseases, and survivors suffered discrimination afterwards.
In 1839 a punt was built on the Maribyrnong River, it was the only connecting link between Melbourne and Geelong, Ballarat, Castlemaine and Bendigo. The Punt Hotel opened three years later and was the first building in the area. During the first decade drovers transporting cattle and sheep provided the only business at the hotel. After 1851, when gold was discovered out west, the pub did a roaring trade with diggers. Part of the old pub still stands and it has been renamed The Pioneer. (Ref: Charlie Lovett's Footscray)
The Post Office first opened on 12 October 1857.
Footscray was declared a Municipality in 1859 with a population of 300 and 70 buildings. Around the same year the first bridge was built across Saltwater river. (Ref: Charlie Lovett's Footscray)
Between 1881 and 1891 Footscray's population more than tripled from almost 6,000 to 19,000. (Ref: Charlie Lovett's Footscray)
Footscray developed into an industrial zone in the second half of the nineteenth century, the manufacturing industry began to decline in the 1960s and 70's.
In 2006 less than half the population (41.1%) was born in Australia, the main countries of overseas origin are Vietnam, China, India, United Kingdom and Italy. In the 21 Century, Maribyrnong of which Footscray is a part, saw a major increase in residents from Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Burma, including a large proportion of refugees.
Footscray has Victoria's fourth highest proportion of residents born in South-East Asia (13.9%).
The average person in Footscray is a youthful 33 years of age.
(currently held by the ALP's Nicola Roxon
) and the state electorate of Footscray
(currently held by the ALP's Marsha Thomson
), and the City of Maribyrnong at local level. The suburb's historical voting patterns have been fairly typical of a working-class suburb with a high migrant population. It was a very safe area for the ALP until the 2010 state election, which saw the ALP vote drop below 50%, making the seat marginal.
Consistent with other inner-city electorates in Melbourne, and other state capitals, voter support the Australian Greens
has increased in recent years, The party received 20 per cent of the primary vote in Footscray 2010 State election.
Maribyrnong Council has four male Labor and three female independent councillors who will stay in power at least until the 2012 elections.
At the Federal Election of 2010, the ALP won Gellibrand, which includes Footscray, with 59% of the vote. The Lib/Nat parties got 23%, whilst the Australian Greens
saw a swing of +6% with 15% of the vote.
Janet Rice of the Greens was elected to Maribyrnong Council in 2003, re-elected in 2005 and then elected Mayor in 2006. Whilst Mayor, Janet had a Mayoral bike instead of a car.
The first woman Mayor was Vietnamese born Mai Ho, from 1997 to 1998. Mai Ho arrived in Australia in December 1982 with two small daughters and sixteen dollars. By 1997 she was Mayor of Maribyrnong. Twelve months later her daughter, Tan Le, was voted Young Australian of the Year.
, 20 Indian
, 17 Chinese
and several; African, Australian, Indonesian, Italian, Thai, Turkish and Japanese. Footscray also has one each of the following restaurants; Korean, Malaysian and Portuguese . Subway and Nandos are the only multi-national corporate foods in downtown Footscray.
Notable restaurants include the award winning Station Hotel which was winner of radio 3AW's "Pub of the Year".
Lentil as Anything
is a series of pay as you feel vegetarian restaurants, located at 233 Barkly St Footscray. Whatever you choose to pay for your meal goes to a range of services that help new migrants, refugees, people with disabilities and the long-term unemployed.
The Footscray Market is a large indoor fresh produce and seafood market, with 33 food stalls, 50 general, catering particularly to the various ethnicities and local restaurants. Located opposite Footscray Railway Station.
The Melbourne Wholesale Market on Footscray Road (often referred to as the Footscray Traders Market) will be moved to Epping by 2015.
Another large market in Footscray is Little Saigon, which opened in 1992 to cater to the Asian population growth, but now has customers from all backgrounds. Little Saigon is noisy and crowded, with a wide array of tropical fruits and Asian produce.
which was filmed in and around Footscray in 1992. It deals with a fictional gang of neo-Nazi skinheads
and their battle against Vietnamese
immigrants. Not all scenes were filmed locally. The "Footscray Railway Station" featured in the movie has a pedestrian underpass, while the real station has an overpass for foot traffic; the station used for filming was Richmond station
. The film Metal Skin
(1994) was also set in and around Footscray.
Footscray has some fine 1930's Art Deco buildings, most in disrepair, waiting to be exposed from behind shop signs and ugly awnings.
The Former Footscray town hall is the only American Romanesque civic building in Victoria. The outside is a mix of Art Deco, Moderne, Celtic, Spanish and Medieval.
Footscray Park
is one of the largest and most intact examples of an Edwardian park in Australia; characteristic features include rustic stonework, ornamental ponds, extensive use of palms. The 15 hectare park is classified as a heritage place on the Victorian Heritage Register. The heavily indebted local council approved a 1.8 million makeover for the park in March 2011.
The Australian Croatian Association headquarters is located in Footscray, serving the large Croatian community in the area. Other Ethnic Community, Migrants and Refugees groups include African, Albanian, Burmese, Chinese, Croatian or Bosnian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Greek, Harari, Hungarian, Italian, Macedonian, Multicultural, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Latin American, Sudanese, Vietnamese.
The Footscray Club is a social club that has been part of Footscray since 1894. This was the original Footscray Cycle Club, when cycling became quite popular in Australia in the 19th century. By 1909 the club had build a permanent site on Paisley street where it still stands today. Early in the last century the club evolved into a purely local social club where members of the local community meet and socialize to this day.
The Footscray Historical Society works on a number of local fronts to record and preserve the history of the area. The Society has an active membership who take part in a range of activities to assist this endeavour. Records such as rare books, business records and correspondence are held at the Society's headquarters at Ercildoune, built in 1876 as a branch of the National Bank of Australasia. The Society owns this historic building and has had the interior and exterior restored. Tours, forums and discussions are held regularly.
Footscray is at the centre of the Kariwara Scout district of Scouts Australia. The word 'Kariwara' means 'West' in a local Aboriginal dialect. Started in 1909, the 1st Footscray Scout hall is a historic building next to the Footscray police station in Hyde St. 3rd Footscray is the hall seen from the railway line and no longer has youth programs but is home to adult training. The 2nd Footscray Scout hall has a modern brick hall after the first hall burnt down in 1982. The group has programs for children aged 7 to 26 and meets at Guadion park in Barkly St. The 10th Footscray Scout group is in Essex St next to the YMCA
and has programs for 7 to 15 year olds. The 5th Footscray group is opposite Seddon station and has programs for 6 to 15 year olds. All are part of Scouts Australia.
Maribyrnong Truck Action Group works towards cleaning the air in Footscray and surrounding suburbs.
Other groups are, Footscray Traders Association, Footscray Massive (pop culture collective) Footscray Asian Business Association, Save Railway Place, Fair Go for Footscray Rail Residents and Footscray Rotary.
The historic 'Footscray Drill Hall' is home to the avant garde Snuff Puppets
. Their performances, often with taboo subject matter, combine larger than life puppetry with physical theatre. The Snuff Puppets have toured the world, with shows and workshops throughout Australia and in Indonesia, Korea, Japan, China, Brazil, Western and Eastern Europe. The Snuff Puppets have been part of Footscray since 1992.
The Dog Theatre opened September 2008. One of the first site-specific company/venues in Australia! "Winner of Best Venue: Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards 2009". The venue has a funky cafe with well made coffee, snacks and cool seating under the shade of a huge willow tree. As of 2011, the Dog Theatre is no longer in residence at Albert St, and now moves all over the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The Trocadero Art Space is located on Hopkins Street, in Footscray's heart. It comprises both interior and outdoor (street-exposed) exhibition spaces.
In the Company of Others Inc - Not-for-profit group conducting body, breath and voice projects.
Integrate Stretch - Workshops in movement and performance.
Women's Circus A community arts and physical theatre company, using circus as a tool for social change.
NICA Circus - Circus workshops for 7 - 16 yr olds including acrobatics, juggling, stilt walking, balancing and rope work, with artists from National Institute of Circus Arts
Albright Performers dance studio on Hyde St (x Parker St) has been running for over four decades and teaches all ages and levels. Classes are held in Acrobatics, Classical Ballet, Jazz Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap Dance and Theatrical Stage Dance.
s, currently being home to the Footscray-Yarraville City Band - FYCB which rehearses weekly and performs throughout the year locally, nationally and internationally. The FYCB conduct an annual Carols by Candlelight event each December in the Yarraville Gardens. 2010 VBL State Champions.
The Hyde Street Youth Band. was established in 1928. The Hyde Street Youth Band contributed to the history of the region as the band played the official theme song for the Footscray Football Club (now Western Bulldogs) while they were playing at the Whitten Oval. The FYCB is one of five A-Grade Brass bands in Victoria
and has been successful in the National Championships.
JABULA! – African Community Choir is run by Sudanese singer Ajak Kwai and percussionist Tawanda Gadzikwa. The choir brings together people from broad skill levels and diverse African heritages. The choir meets fortnightly on Saturdays at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
The St Jerome's Laneway Festival is a block party
held in partnership with the Footscray Community Arts Centre. In 2011 it was attended by over 10,000 people.
The Western Bulldogs Community Festival and Family Day is held every summer on Whitten Oval.
Prior to 2011, an annual Tết Lunar Year Festival
was held each year in Footscray organised and run by the Footscray Asian Business Association (FABA). The Quang Minh Tet Festival celebrations in neighbouring Braybrook were expanded.
Greens Mayor Cr Janet Rice helped get heavy trucks banned from Hopkins, Barkley, Irving, and Nicholson streets in 2007.
The Regional Rail Link would also see the need to rebuild the Nicholson Street bridge in central Footscray.
WestLink was a major road proposed by the former Labor State government in 2010. It included a multi-billion-dollar road tunnel under Footscray, that would link Dynon and Footscray Roads in the Port of Melbourne with Geelong and Sunshine Roads in West Footscray. The current state Liberal government (2011) is assessing various options to remove trucks from the inner west. Among them, ramps to inter-connect the Westgate freeway and the Port of Melbourne.
An extension of route 86 from Docklands along Footscray Road to Footscray is proposed.
community initiative, established in March 1997, offering disounts in the store for concession card holders.
Basketball
Canoeing
Cricket
Cycling
Football (Soccer)
Gridiron (American Football)
Gymnastics
Hockey
Horse Racing
Lacrosse
Rowing
Water Polo
The headquarters of Lonely Planet Publications are located in eastern Footscray on the banks of the Maribyrnong River
, adjacent to the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail
. Lonely Planet has published over 100 million books.
The eastern portion of Footscray, in the fork between the Yarra River
and Maribyrnong River
, contains railway yards, the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, and Appleton and Swanson Docks which were the site of the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute
in Melbourne. In 2005, the State Government announced the closure of the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market to make way for an extensive redevelopment of the Port of Melbourne
and the construction of new freight rail links to the area.
While many factories and warehouses are still to be found in and around the suburb of Footscray, many former industrial sites are being transformed into modern housing estates. Perhaps the largest of these is the former Footscray Ammunition Factory in a prime elevated position overlooking the banks of the Maribyrnong River with views across to Flemington Racecourse and Melbourne city centre.
In 2009 an exhibition entitled 'Footscary Footscrazy Footscray' was held as part of the Big West Festival. It included works by Footscray artists Heather Horrocks, Karenne Rees and Sylvie Leber.
The sign's popularity is evidenced by the 'Footscrayzy Sign Society' group on Facebook with its photos and 6000+ members.
Primary
Secondary
Universities
Institutes and more
The Footscray Mechanics' Institute Inc. has operated a Library in Nicholson Street since 1913. The library is a subscription library, which is open 5 days a week, closed Weekends, Public Holidays and for 4 weeks over the Christmas/New Year period. Plans are underway for the 100th Anniversary of the current building.
s, and vascular surgery.
Key services at the Western Hospital include acute medical and surgical services, intensive and coronary care, emergency services, renal services, specialist drug and alcohol services, aged care and palliative care.
The Western Region Health Centre was established in 1964. Services include an African community worker, refugee health nurse, women’s health nurse, dieticians, youth health nurse, diabetic educator, podiatrist, counsellors and physiotherapists. Visiting specialists include a general surgeon and paediatrician. Pathology services and Dental services are co-located on site.
, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Buddhist
, Catholic
, Church of Christ, Evangelical Christian, Independent Christian, Lutheran
, Muslim
, Orthodox
, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and Uniting Church
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong
City of Maribyrnong
The City of Maribyrnong is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the inner western suburbs between 5 and 10 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...
. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401.
Footscray is characterised by a very diverse, multicultural
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
central shopping area, which reflects the successive waves of immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
experienced by Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and by Footscray in particular. Once a centre for Italian and former Yugoslavian migrants, it is now a hub for Vietnamese, and increasingly, East African immigrants in Melbourne.
Footscray is named after Foots Cray
Foots Cray
Foots Cray is a place in the London Borough of Bexley, near the town of Sidcup, in southeast London, England, United Kingdom.It took its name from Godwin Fot, a local Saxon landowner recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, and from the River Cray that passes through the village. It lay on the old...
, a locality in south-east London on the River Cray.
History
Footscray is part of The City of Maribyrnong and was built largely on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation.The first European to visit the area was Charles Grimes in 1803. A park, where he landed, is named after him at Napier St.
British settlers began to settle the land in the 1830s and the local Aboriginal community in the Maribyrnong area was reduced by killer European diseases, and survivors suffered discrimination afterwards.
In 1839 a punt was built on the Maribyrnong River, it was the only connecting link between Melbourne and Geelong, Ballarat, Castlemaine and Bendigo. The Punt Hotel opened three years later and was the first building in the area. During the first decade drovers transporting cattle and sheep provided the only business at the hotel. After 1851, when gold was discovered out west, the pub did a roaring trade with diggers. Part of the old pub still stands and it has been renamed The Pioneer. (Ref: Charlie Lovett's Footscray)
The Post Office first opened on 12 October 1857.
Footscray was declared a Municipality in 1859 with a population of 300 and 70 buildings. Around the same year the first bridge was built across Saltwater river. (Ref: Charlie Lovett's Footscray)
Between 1881 and 1891 Footscray's population more than tripled from almost 6,000 to 19,000. (Ref: Charlie Lovett's Footscray)
Footscray developed into an industrial zone in the second half of the nineteenth century, the manufacturing industry began to decline in the 1960s and 70's.
People
Footscray was home to the Aboriginal Woimurrung and Boonwurrung tribes of the Kulin nation for over 40,000 years.In 2006 less than half the population (41.1%) was born in Australia, the main countries of overseas origin are Vietnam, China, India, United Kingdom and Italy. In the 21 Century, Maribyrnong of which Footscray is a part, saw a major increase in residents from Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Burma, including a large proportion of refugees.
Footscray has Victoria's fourth highest proportion of residents born in South-East Asia (13.9%).
The average person in Footscray is a youthful 33 years of age.
Politics
Footscray falls within the federal electorate of GellibrandDivision of Gellibrand
The Division of Gellibrand is anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Joseph Gellibrand, a pioneer settler of the Melbourne area...
(currently held by the ALP's Nicola Roxon
Nicola Roxon
Nicola Louise Roxon is an Australian politician, and is the Minister for Health and Ageing. She has been a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives since 1998, representing the Division of Gellibrand, in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria.-Early and personal life:She...
) and the state electorate of Footscray
Electoral district of Footscray
The Electoral district of Footscray is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It lies just north of Melbourne and covers the suburbs of Footscray, Maribyrnong and Seddon....
(currently held by the ALP's Marsha Thomson
Marsha Thomson
Marsha Thomson, born 21 December 1955 in Melbourne, is an Australian politician, is a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the division of Footscray....
), and the City of Maribyrnong at local level. The suburb's historical voting patterns have been fairly typical of a working-class suburb with a high migrant population. It was a very safe area for the ALP until the 2010 state election, which saw the ALP vote drop below 50%, making the seat marginal.
Consistent with other inner-city electorates in Melbourne, and other state capitals, voter support the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
has increased in recent years, The party received 20 per cent of the primary vote in Footscray 2010 State election.
Maribyrnong Council has four male Labor and three female independent councillors who will stay in power at least until the 2012 elections.
At the Federal Election of 2010, the ALP won Gellibrand, which includes Footscray, with 59% of the vote. The Lib/Nat parties got 23%, whilst the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
saw a swing of +6% with 15% of the vote.
Janet Rice of the Greens was elected to Maribyrnong Council in 2003, re-elected in 2005 and then elected Mayor in 2006. Whilst Mayor, Janet had a Mayoral bike instead of a car.
The first woman Mayor was Vietnamese born Mai Ho, from 1997 to 1998. Mai Ho arrived in Australia in December 1982 with two small daughters and sixteen dollars. By 1997 she was Mayor of Maribyrnong. Twelve months later her daughter, Tan Le, was voted Young Australian of the Year.
Food
There are over 130 restaurants in Footscray, including; 30 VietnameseCuisine of Vietnam
Vietnamese cuisine is a style of cooking derived from Vietnam. Fish sauce and paste, soy paste, rice, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables are commonly used. Vietnamese recipes utilize a diverse range of herbs, including lemongrass, mint, Vietnamese mint, long coriander and Thai basil leaves...
, 20 Indian
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
, 17 Chinese
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
and several; African, Australian, Indonesian, Italian, Thai, Turkish and Japanese. Footscray also has one each of the following restaurants; Korean, Malaysian and Portuguese . Subway and Nandos are the only multi-national corporate foods in downtown Footscray.
Notable restaurants include the award winning Station Hotel which was winner of radio 3AW's "Pub of the Year".
Lentil as Anything
Lentil as Anything
Lentil as Anything is series of pay-as-you-feel, organic, vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne, Australia. There are currently four restaurants, the first of which opened in 2000 in St. Kilda, the largest is located in the former Abbotsford Convent, in Abbotsford, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne...
is a series of pay as you feel vegetarian restaurants, located at 233 Barkly St Footscray. Whatever you choose to pay for your meal goes to a range of services that help new migrants, refugees, people with disabilities and the long-term unemployed.
The Footscray Market is a large indoor fresh produce and seafood market, with 33 food stalls, 50 general, catering particularly to the various ethnicities and local restaurants. Located opposite Footscray Railway Station.
The Melbourne Wholesale Market on Footscray Road (often referred to as the Footscray Traders Market) will be moved to Epping by 2015.
Another large market in Footscray is Little Saigon, which opened in 1992 to cater to the Asian population growth, but now has customers from all backgrounds. Little Saigon is noisy and crowded, with a wide array of tropical fruits and Asian produce.
Culture
Footscray has been the setting of several Australian movies, the most notable being Romper StomperRomper Stomper
-Awards:The film was nominated for nine Australian Film Institute Awards. It won Best Achievement in Sound, Best Actor in a Lead Role and Best Original Music Score.-Box office and Reception:Romper Stomper grossed $3,165,034 at the box office in Australia,...
which was filmed in and around Footscray in 1992. It deals with a fictional gang of neo-Nazi skinheads
Nazi-Skinheads
White power skinheads are a white supremacist and antisemitic offshoot of the skinhead subculture. Many of them are affiliated with white nationalist organizations....
and their battle against Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
immigrants. Not all scenes were filmed locally. The "Footscray Railway Station" featured in the movie has a pedestrian underpass, while the real station has an overpass for foot traffic; the station used for filming was Richmond station
Richmond railway station, Melbourne
Richmond is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Richmond. It is classed as a Premium Station and is in Metcard Zone 1.-Facilities:...
. The film Metal Skin
Metal Skin
Metal Skin is a 1994 Australian film written and directed by Geoffrey Wright, starring Aden Young Tara Morice, Nadine Garner and Ben Mendelsohn. The film follows the lives of four adolescents in and around the blue-collar suburb of Altona, Melbourne....
(1994) was also set in and around Footscray.
Footscray has some fine 1930's Art Deco buildings, most in disrepair, waiting to be exposed from behind shop signs and ugly awnings.
The Former Footscray town hall is the only American Romanesque civic building in Victoria. The outside is a mix of Art Deco, Moderne, Celtic, Spanish and Medieval.
Footscray Park
Footscray Park
Footscray Park is one of the largest and most intact examples of an Edwardian park in Australia. The 15 hectare park is located on the south bank of the Maribyrnong River in Footscray in Victoria...
is one of the largest and most intact examples of an Edwardian park in Australia; characteristic features include rustic stonework, ornamental ponds, extensive use of palms. The 15 hectare park is classified as a heritage place on the Victorian Heritage Register. The heavily indebted local council approved a 1.8 million makeover for the park in March 2011.
Groups
The Footscray Club is a social club that has been part of Footscray since 1894. This was the original Footscray Cycle Club, when cycling became quite popular in Australia in the 19th century. By 1909 the club had build a permanent site on Paisley street where it still stands today. Early in the last century the club evolved into a purely local social club where members of the local community meet and socialize to this day.
The Footscray Historical Society works on a number of local fronts to record and preserve the history of the area. The Society has an active membership who take part in a range of activities to assist this endeavour. Records such as rare books, business records and correspondence are held at the Society's headquarters at Ercildoune, built in 1876 as a branch of the National Bank of Australasia. The Society owns this historic building and has had the interior and exterior restored. Tours, forums and discussions are held regularly.
Footscray is at the centre of the Kariwara Scout district of Scouts Australia. The word 'Kariwara' means 'West' in a local Aboriginal dialect. Started in 1909, the 1st Footscray Scout hall is a historic building next to the Footscray police station in Hyde St. 3rd Footscray is the hall seen from the railway line and no longer has youth programs but is home to adult training. The 2nd Footscray Scout hall has a modern brick hall after the first hall burnt down in 1982. The group has programs for children aged 7 to 26 and meets at Guadion park in Barkly St. The 10th Footscray Scout group is in Essex St next to the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and has programs for 7 to 15 year olds. The 5th Footscray group is opposite Seddon station and has programs for 6 to 15 year olds. All are part of Scouts Australia.
Maribyrnong Truck Action Group works towards cleaning the air in Footscray and surrounding suburbs.
Other groups are, Footscray Traders Association, Footscray Massive (pop culture collective) Footscray Asian Business Association, Save Railway Place, Fair Go for Footscray Rail Residents and Footscray Rotary.
Arts
Located on the bank of the Maribyrnong River, Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) is a centre for contemporary arts and community engagement and cultural development and multicultural arts. Since its establishment in 1974, it is estimated that over 2 million community members have visited FCAC or directly participated in one or more of its many events, initiatives, projects, workshops and programs. Footscray Community Arts Centre's projects have toured nationally and internationally. FCAC aims to contribute to the transformation of contemporary Australian culture and the ongoing, dynamic debate about the place of 'art' in society.Snuff Puppets
Snuff Puppets is an Australian puppet theatre company that was founded in 1992.Originating in Canberra as part of Splinters Theatre of Spectacle, Snuff Puppets moved to a dusty warehouse in the industrial working class suburb of Footscray in Melbourne, and are now based in the historic Footscray...
. Their performances, often with taboo subject matter, combine larger than life puppetry with physical theatre. The Snuff Puppets have toured the world, with shows and workshops throughout Australia and in Indonesia, Korea, Japan, China, Brazil, Western and Eastern Europe. The Snuff Puppets have been part of Footscray since 1992.
The Dog Theatre opened September 2008. One of the first site-specific company/venues in Australia! "Winner of Best Venue: Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards 2009". The venue has a funky cafe with well made coffee, snacks and cool seating under the shade of a huge willow tree. As of 2011, the Dog Theatre is no longer in residence at Albert St, and now moves all over the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The Trocadero Art Space is located on Hopkins Street, in Footscray's heart. It comprises both interior and outdoor (street-exposed) exhibition spaces.
In the Company of Others Inc - Not-for-profit group conducting body, breath and voice projects.
Integrate Stretch - Workshops in movement and performance.
Women's Circus A community arts and physical theatre company, using circus as a tool for social change.
NICA Circus - Circus workshops for 7 - 16 yr olds including acrobatics, juggling, stilt walking, balancing and rope work, with artists from National Institute of Circus Arts
Albright Performers dance studio on Hyde St (x Parker St) has been running for over four decades and teaches all ages and levels. Classes are held in Acrobatics, Classical Ballet, Jazz Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap Dance and Theatrical Stage Dance.
Music
Footscray has a rich history of music and brass bandBrass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
s, currently being home to the Footscray-Yarraville City Band - FYCB which rehearses weekly and performs throughout the year locally, nationally and internationally. The FYCB conduct an annual Carols by Candlelight event each December in the Yarraville Gardens. 2010 VBL State Champions.
The Hyde Street Youth Band. was established in 1928. The Hyde Street Youth Band contributed to the history of the region as the band played the official theme song for the Footscray Football Club (now Western Bulldogs) while they were playing at the Whitten Oval. The FYCB is one of five A-Grade Brass bands in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and has been successful in the National Championships.
JABULA! – African Community Choir is run by Sudanese singer Ajak Kwai and percussionist Tawanda Gadzikwa. The choir brings together people from broad skill levels and diverse African heritages. The choir meets fortnightly on Saturdays at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
Festivals
The Big West community arts festival is held every two years in Footscray and surrounding suburbs.The St Jerome's Laneway Festival is a block party
Block party
A block party is a large public party in which many members of a single neighbourhood congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which often involves closing an entire city block to vehicle traffic...
held in partnership with the Footscray Community Arts Centre. In 2011 it was attended by over 10,000 people.
The Western Bulldogs Community Festival and Family Day is held every summer on Whitten Oval.
Prior to 2011, an annual Tết Lunar Year Festival
Tet
Tet can mean:*Tết or Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese new year**Tet Offensive, a military campaign that began in 1968*Têt in Roussillon, France*Equal temperament, abbreviated as 12-TET, 19-TET and so on...
was held each year in Footscray organised and run by the Footscray Asian Business Association (FABA). The Quang Minh Tet Festival celebrations in neighbouring Braybrook were expanded.
Town planning
In 2008, the former state Labor government designated Footscray as one of six Central Activities Districts. Melbourne's CADs were given planning rules aimed at creating lively mixed use CBD-like districts.- The $350 million McNab Avenue development will have a mix of government offices with residential and commercial buildings. Grocon is expected to finish the project by 2014.
- Approved for higher density residential development in 2009, is the 15 hectares Joseph Road Precinct. The tallest building approved for the area is a $90 million dollar, 25 story apartment block with 222 apartments, construction is due to finish in 2013.
- A new 6 billion-dollar suburb in called E-Gate has been proposed by the state government on a 20-hectare site along Footscray Road.
- The Banco Group currently (2011) plan to turn the Footscray Plaza into a $45 million dollar apartment block of ten stories, with the current retail space expanded. The property falls within the Priority Development Zone so there are no rights to community consultation.
Greens Mayor Cr Janet Rice helped get heavy trucks banned from Hopkins, Barkley, Irving, and Nicholson streets in 2007.
The Regional Rail Link would also see the need to rebuild the Nicholson Street bridge in central Footscray.
WestLink was a major road proposed by the former Labor State government in 2010. It included a multi-billion-dollar road tunnel under Footscray, that would link Dynon and Footscray Roads in the Port of Melbourne with Geelong and Sunshine Roads in West Footscray. The current state Liberal government (2011) is assessing various options to remove trucks from the inner west. Among them, ramps to inter-connect the Westgate freeway and the Port of Melbourne.
An extension of route 86 from Docklands along Footscray Road to Footscray is proposed.
Community initiatives
Grasslands Organic Grocery is a non-profitNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
community initiative, established in March 1997, offering disounts in the store for concession card holders.
Sport
Aussie Rules Football- Footscray is home of the Western BulldogsWestern BulldogsThe Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, an Australian rules footballAustralian rules footballAustralian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team which plays in the Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. The team was known as the Footscray Football Club until 1996, and played its home games at the Whitten OvalWhitten OvalWhitten Oval is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located at 417 Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administrative headquarters of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, which competes in the Australian Football League.Formerly known as the...
on Barkly Street on the edge of Footscray, which is now used only as the club's training ground.
- Footscray also has some WRFL clubs, they are the West Footscray Roosters, the North Footscray Devils and the Parkside Magpies.
Basketball
- Footscray Hawks Basketball Club - after a decade break this club, once the biggest in Victoria, is back in 2011.
Canoeing
- Footscray Canoe Club - Footscray Boat Club, 40 Farnsworth Ave, cnr Maribyrnong Blvd, Footscray - Sessions usually run Sat or Sun from 7.30am.
Cricket
- The Footscray Edgewater Cricket Club (formally Footscray Cricket Club) was founded in 1883 and for the first 113 years of its existence was also situated at the Western Oval (now Whitten Oval) until 1996 when combined pressure exerted by the Footscray Football Club and state-government-appointed commissioners to the City of Maribyrnong saw the club relocated to the Mervyn G. Hughes Oval. Until the test cricket debut of the Melbourne Cricket Club's Brad HodgeBrad HodgeBradley John Hodge is an Australian and Victorian cricketer. He attended St Bede's College in Mentone, Victoria. He is a right hand batsman who bats in the middle order, as well as a part time right arm off spin bowler....
in December 2005, the Footscray Cricket Club had produced the most Test players of any Melbourne based district cricket club. Footscray's Test representatives in order of debut are Ron GauntRon GauntRonald Arthur Gaunt is an Australian cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 1958 to 1964....
, Les JoslinLes JoslinLeslie Ronald Joslin is a former Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1968....
, Ken EastwoodKen EastwoodKenneth Humphrey Eastwood is a former Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1971. He replaced Bill Lawry, who was dropped altogether despite being the captain due to a dispute with the board...
, Alan HurstAlan Hurst (cricketer)Alan George Hurst is a former Australian cricketer who played in twelve Tests and eight ODIs between 1975 and 1979...
, Ray BrightRay BrightRaymond James Bright is a former Australian Test and One Day International cricketer.A left-arm orthodox spin bowler and useful lower order right-handed batsman, Bright made his first-class debut for Victoria at eighteen years of age, against New South Wales in Sydney in the 1972–1973 domestic...
, Merv HughesMerv HughesMervyn Gregory Hughes is a former Australian cricketer. A right-arm fast bowler, he represented Australia between 1985 and 1994 in 53 Test matches, taking 212 wickets. He played 33 One Day Internationals, taking 38 wickets. He took a hat trick in a Test against the West Indies at the WACA in...
, Tony DodemaideTony DodemaideAnthony Ian Christopher Dodemaide is a former Australian Test Cricketer. After a three year stint as Chief Executive of the Western Australian Cricket Association in Perth, he is the current Chief Executive of Cricket Victoria...
and Colin MillerColin Miller (cricketer)Colin Reid Miller is a former Australian cricketer. Known for his ever-changing hair colour; he played with blue hair in a test match against the West Indies in 2001. His hair apparently made West Indies captain Courtney Walsh laugh.Miller began as a right-arm fast-medium bowler, but changed to...
. The club won its only District First Eleven premiership under the captaincy of Lindsay James in 1979/80.
- The Footscray United Cricket Club was founded in 1934 and won the VTCA North A1 Grand Final for 2010-11.
Cycling
- The Footscray Cycling Club promotes road racing and criterium racing, whilst cyclists are represented by the MazzaBUG, the MaribyrnongCity of MaribyrnongThe City of Maribyrnong is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the inner western suburbs between 5 and 10 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...
Bicycle User GroupBicycle User GroupA Bicycle User Group is a group set up to promote cycling issues in, for example, a place of employment or a local government area...
.
- Nearby bike paths include the Maribyrnong River TrailMaribyrnong River TrailThe Maribyrnong River Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Maribyrnong River through the north western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and the Hobsons Bay Coastal TrailHobsons Bay Coastal TrailThe Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the coast line of Hobsons Bay in the inner western suburbs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The trail forms part of the western half of the Bayside Trail which encircles Port Phillip...
.
Football (Soccer)
- The football club Melbourne Croatia was founded in Leeds Street, Footscray in 1953, and now bears the name Melbourne Knights FC.
Gridiron (American Football)
- Footscray is home of the Western Crusaders, an American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
or GridironGridiron footballGridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
team which plays in the Gridiron VictoriaGridiron VictoriaGridiron Victoria is the governing body for American Football in the State of Victoria, Australia. Formed in 1997, Gridiron Victoria was an amalgamation of the two existing governing bodies of the time: the Victoria Gridiron Football League and the Gridiron Association of Victoria.-Clubs:* Bay...
league. The team was known as the Westside Vikings until 1997, and plays its home games at the Henry Turner Memorial ReserveHenry TurnerHenry Turner may refer to:*Henry Turner , American basketball player* Henry McNeal Turner , Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.* Henry Ashby Turner , American historian of Germany....
on Farnsworth Avenue right next door to the iconic Flemington RacecourseFlemington RacecourseFlemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
, within the Footscray ParkFootscray ParkFootscray Park is one of the largest and most intact examples of an Edwardian park in Australia. The 15 hectare park is located on the south bank of the Maribyrnong River in Footscray in Victoria...
area, Maribyrnong RiverMaribyrnong riverThe Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
and Victoria UniversityVictoria University, AustraliaVictoria University is a multi-sector tertiary institution based in Melbourne, Australia with 10 campuses.VU offers qualifications in higher education, vocational education , and short courses...
. The Western Crusaders proudly call Footscray it's home.
Gymnastics
- Footscray City Gymnastics Club: The 30-year-old club is home to almost 900 gymnasts and now offers programs to children with disabilities.
Hockey
- Footscray Hockey Club (junior): Run by 90 volunteers, the club is the second-largest hockey club in Melbourne with playing members from five to 70 years old and a focus on equality for female players.
Horse Racing
- Flemington RacecourseFlemington RacecourseFlemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
, the home of the Melbourne CupMelbourne CupThe Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
, is across the Maribyrnong RiverMaribyrnong riverThe Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
to the northeast in the neighbouring suburb of FlemingtonFlemington, VictoriaFlemington is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, situated between the Maribyrnong River and Moonee Ponds Creek 4 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. It was named by settler James Watson after Flemington estate in Scotland. Its Local Government Areas are the...
, immediately opposite Footscray ParkFootscray ParkFootscray Park is one of the largest and most intact examples of an Edwardian park in Australia. The 15 hectare park is located on the south bank of the Maribyrnong River in Footscray in Victoria...
, the second largest botanical garden in Victoria.
Lacrosse
- The Footscray Lacrosse Club: is 50 years old and play at Angliss Reserve in Yarraville. In 2011 the club has around 190 members across 15 men's and women's teams.
Rowing
- Footscray City Rowing Club - This club is over 100 years olds and meets at Footscray Boat Club, Maribyrnong Boulevard. The club is for 14 year olds and up, beginners, novices, seniors and school programs.
Water Polo
- Footscray Swimming & Waterpolo Club - formed in 1909 and commenced activities in the Maribyrnong River, then the Footscray Swim Centre.
Industry
Maribyrnong river
The Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
, adjacent to the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail
Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail
The Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the coast line of Hobsons Bay in the inner western suburbs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The trail forms part of the western half of the Bayside Trail which encircles Port Phillip...
. Lonely Planet has published over 100 million books.
The eastern portion of Footscray, in the fork between the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
and Maribyrnong River
Maribyrnong river
The Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
, contains railway yards, the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, and Appleton and Swanson Docks which were the site of the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute
1998 Australian waterfront dispute
The Australian waterfront dispute of 1998 was a watershed event in Australian Industrial Relations history, in which the Patrick Corporation undertook a restructuring of their operations for the purpose of increasing the productivity of their workforce...
in Melbourne. In 2005, the State Government announced the closure of the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market to make way for an extensive redevelopment of the Port of Melbourne
Port of Melbourne
The Port of Melbourne is Australia's busiest port for containerised and general cargo. It is located in Melbourne, Victoria and covers an area at the mouth of the Yarra River, downstream of Bolte Bridge, which is at the head of Port Phillip, as well as several piers on the bay itself...
and the construction of new freight rail links to the area.
While many factories and warehouses are still to be found in and around the suburb of Footscray, many former industrial sites are being transformed into modern housing estates. Perhaps the largest of these is the former Footscray Ammunition Factory in a prime elevated position overlooking the banks of the Maribyrnong River with views across to Flemington Racecourse and Melbourne city centre.
Notable residents
- Colleen HartlandColleen HartlandColleen Hartland is an Australian politician, and a Greens member of the Victorian Legislative Council.-Early career:...
, Victorian state government Greens' MP - Coral BrowneCoral BrowneCoral Browne was an Australian-American stage and screen actress.-Career:Coral Edith Brown was the only daughter of a restaurant-owner. She and her two brothers were raised in Footscray, a suburb of Melbourne, where she studied at the National Gallery Art School...
(1913–1991), international award winning film and theater actor who was raised in Footscray - Doug ChappelDoug ChappelDoug Chappel is an Australian comedian who grew up in the working class suburb of Footscray in Melbourne's Western Suburbs. Chappel is also known for his work in the community with homeless youth & troubled teenagers...
, comedian - Ernie SigleyErnie SigleyErnest William "Ernie" Sigley is an enduring Australian entertainment personality known for his square-rimmed spectacles, the gap between his front teeth and his slapstick approach to comedy.-Radio career:...
, former TV presenter and radio compare and TV Week Gold Logie Award winner
- Les TwentymanLes TwentymanLeslie Jack "Les" Twentyman AO is a prominent youth outreach worker and community activist in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Raised in Braybrook, he is one of Victoria's best known social campaigners, on issues ranging from homelessness, drug abuse, prison reform and social...
, youth worker and social campaigner who has received the Order of Australia and was the 2006 Victorian of the Year. - The 20th Man Fund - Merv HughesMerv HughesMervyn Gregory Hughes is a former Australian cricketer. A right-arm fast bowler, he represented Australia between 1985 and 1994 in 53 Test matches, taking 212 wickets. He played 33 One Day Internationals, taking 38 wickets. He took a hat trick in a Test against the West Indies at the WACA in...
, former AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, played in 53 Test matches, now retired with Mervyn G. Hughes Oval named after him - Michael LeunigMichael LeunigMichael Leunig , typically referred to as Leunig, is an Australian poet, cartoonist and cultural commentator. His best known works include The Adventures of Vasco Pyjama and the Curly Flats series...
, cartoonist, poet and an Australian Living Treasure - Ray BornerRay BornerRay Helmut Borner AM is a former Australian basketball player who competed in the National Basketball League...
, former basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
er) and Olympian - Ruby Rose, MTV presenter and model from Footscray City College. In 2008 and 2009, she was chosen as one of the "25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians" by Same Same.
- Russell GilbertRussell GilbertRussell Gilbert , is an Australian comedian and actor from Footscray, Victoria.-Television:He has appeared in several Australian TV comedies, first attracting notice as 'Russ the Postie' on The Comedy Company , which led to a nine year stint on Hey Hey It's Saturday...
, TV and film comedian, twice Logie nominated during his nine years on the Hey Hey It's SaturdayHey Hey It's SaturdayHey Hey It's Saturday was a long-running variety television program on Australian television. It initially ran for 27 years , debuting on the Nine Network on 9 October 1971 and broadcasting its last episode on 20 November 1999. Its host throughout its entire run was Daryl Somers, who would later...
TV show - Ted WhittenTed WhittenEdward James "EJ" Whitten was an Australian rules football player and media personality. He played a then-record 321 Victorian Football League games for the Footscray Football Club between 1951 and 1970...
(1933–1995), Hall of Fame footballer and TV personality. A life size statue of 'Mr Football' kicking a ball stands outside Whitten Oval on Barkly St - William CooperWilliam Cooper (Aboriginal Australian)William Cooper was an Australian Aboriginal leader.-Early life:Born in Yorta Yorta territory around the intersection of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers in Victoria, Australia, he was forced to work for a variety of pastoral employers...
(1861–1941), Aboriginal rights leader, in 1938 organised the only protest in the world against Kristellnacht (Nazi Night of Broken Glass). Trees have been planted in Jerusalem in his honor and the footbridge at Footscray Station bears his name.
Footscrayzy Sign
Another well known mispronunciation is the infamous "Footscrayzy" sign at the intersection between Waverley Street and Orford in Maribyrnong. The sign was originally placed at the intersection with the correct spelling, but later graffitied (with silver spray paint) to add "zy" on the end. Although this may have been intended as a slur at the time, traffic was reasonably heavy at this intersection during peak times. The sign was replaced, on taller legs, to avoid further "modification" (or vandalism). However the new sign was quickly modified once again.In 2009 an exhibition entitled 'Footscary Footscrazy Footscray' was held as part of the Big West Festival. It included works by Footscray artists Heather Horrocks, Karenne Rees and Sylvie Leber.
The sign's popularity is evidenced by the 'Footscrayzy Sign Society' group on Facebook with its photos and 6000+ members.
Educational institutions
Kindergartens- Angliss Children's Centre - Cnr Vipont St & Seelaf Square, Footscray
- Brenbeal Children's Centre - 8 Rayner Street, Footscray
- Hyde Street Kindergarten - 10a Hyde Street, Footscray
- Kingsville Kindergarten - Hansen Reserve, Roberts Street, Footscray
- Bulldogs Community Child Care Centre - 19 Hocking Street, Footscray
Primary
- Footscray City Primary School Also known as Hyde St, offers state curriculum and a smaller Steiner stream.
- Footscray North Primary School Corner Rosamond Rd and Mephan St, Footscray. (not Maidstone)
- Footscray Primary School Previously known as Geelong Rd Primary, offers the International Baccalaureate, and Vietnamese Bilingual Programme.
- St. John's Catholic Primary School Footscray 90% of the Students are from non-English-speaking backgrounds. The 'My School' website revealed that year 5 students at St John's outperformed their peers at Geelong Grammar in four out of the five NAPLAN tests, which assess reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.
- St Monica's Primary School A Catholic school with around 170 children, big on English Literacy.
Secondary
- Footscray City College Previously known as Footscray Technical College, Co-Ed, 1000 students, VCE, TAFE and more offered.
- Gilmore Girls College Previously known as Footscray Girls Secondary College, government run, academically focussed and super safe.
Universities
- Victoria University, Footscray Park A seven-hectare site, swimming pool and gym open to public.
- Victoria University, Footscray Nicholson Range of TAFE programs.
Institutes and more
- Austwide Institute of Training. Automotive Management Institute.
- Leonie Khoury School of Music Lessons for Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Piano and Violin.
- Footscray City Films Independent Tertiary Institution offering Certificate IV, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in Screen and Media. Over 20 Short Film produced each year.
Public libraries
The Footscray public library is operated by the Maribyrnong City Council. Services include 'story time' for pre-schoolers, orientation tours, reference and information services to assist with research needs, internet classes, and services for those unable to visit the library. Facilities include public internet, word processing, photocopiers, study carrels, local studies/family history room, conference and discussion rooms, a baby change room and community notice boards. The library is open 7 days (closed public holidays).The Footscray Mechanics' Institute Inc. has operated a Library in Nicholson Street since 1913. The library is a subscription library, which is open 5 days a week, closed Weekends, Public Holidays and for 4 weeks over the Christmas/New Year period. Plans are underway for the 100th Anniversary of the current building.
Health
The health needs of Footscray and surrounding residents are served by the Western General Hospital. The Western General is a large teaching and research hospital responsible for providing a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient acute health services. The hospital currently conducts research in gastroenterology, colorectal cancer, emergency care, oncology, respiratory medicine, sleep disorderSleep disorder
A sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning...
s, and vascular surgery.
Key services at the Western Hospital include acute medical and surgical services, intensive and coronary care, emergency services, renal services, specialist drug and alcohol services, aged care and palliative care.
The Western Region Health Centre was established in 1964. Services include an African community worker, refugee health nurse, women’s health nurse, dieticians, youth health nurse, diabetic educator, podiatrist, counsellors and physiotherapists. Visiting specialists include a general surgeon and paediatrician. Pathology services and Dental services are co-located on site.
Places of worship
There are many religious organisations and places of worship in Footscray, including AnglicanAnglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Church of Christ, Evangelical Christian, Independent Christian, Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and Uniting Church
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
.
Media
Three free suburban weekly newspapers are delivered around Footscray on Wednesdays:- The Maribyrnong Leader (formerly the Western Times) is published by Leader Community NewspapersLeader Community NewspapersThe Leader Community Newspaper group publishes 33 titles covering metropolitan Melbourne.It is has a circulation of 1.94 million readers per week...
and owned by News CorporationNews CorporationNews Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
.
- The Maribyrnong Weekly is published by FairfaxFairfax MediaFairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John...
- The Star Footscray, Yarraville, Braybrook is published by the Star News GroupStar News GroupStar News Group is a newspaper company based in Pakenham, Victoria, with a circulation of 450,000 per week. It is the largest independent newspaper company in Melbourne and Geelong....
.
See also
- Footscray railway station
- City of FootscrayCity of FootscrayThe City of Footscray was a Local Government Area located about west of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1859 until 1994.-History:...
- the former local government area of the same name. - Electoral district of FootscrayElectoral district of FootscrayThe Electoral district of Footscray is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It lies just north of Melbourne and covers the suburbs of Footscray, Maribyrnong and Seddon....
- Romper StomperRomper Stomper-Awards:The film was nominated for nine Australian Film Institute Awards. It won Best Achievement in Sound, Best Actor in a Lead Role and Best Original Music Score.-Box office and Reception:Romper Stomper grossed $3,165,034 at the box office in Australia,...
, an Australian film set in Footscray
External links
- Trocadero art space on Hopkins Street
- Australian Croatian Association Melbourne
- Footscray Club social club, on Paisley Street
- Footscray Community Arts Centre
- Footscray Cycling Club
- Footscray Historical Society on Vicnet
- Footscray-Yarraville City Band
- Maribyrnong City Council
- Melbourne Museum of Printing on Vicnet
- Snuff Puppets theatre group
- Western Crusaders Gridiron Club
- Quang Minh Buddhist Centre