Altona is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Hobsons Bay local government area. Altona recorded a population of 11,490 at the . which is today a borough of Hamburg.

History

thumb|left|Intersection of Pier Street and the Esplanade in the late 1920s

Prior to arrival of Europeans, the Altona area was home to Kurung-Jang-Balluk Aboriginal people, of the Woiwurrung clan.

Altona was first permanently settled in 1842, with the construction of The Homestead by Alfred Langhorne. The name 'Altona' first appeared on maps in 1861. Taegtow believed that coal was to be found in the area, and in 1881 he formed the Williamstown (Taegtow) Prospecting Company.

Coal mining formed the basis of the local economy from 1908 to 1919. However, this was brought to an end in 1930 when open cut mining was developed in the Latrobe Valley.

By 1918 the population was sufficient to justify a Post Office which opened on 14 January 1918.

Following the Second World War Altona received a large influx of immigrants, primarily from the Mediterranean, Central Europe and a smaller number from the Middle East.

From 1862 Altona was a town in the Shire of Werribee, but in 1957, the Altona Riding of the Shire, which included Altona itself as well as Altona North and Altona Meadows, was severed, and became the City of Altona in 1968. This was merged into the City of Hobsons Bay in June 1994 under local government amalgamations undertaken by the Kennett government.

Politics

thumb|right|Hobsons Bay council chambers in Altona

On 24 June 2010, Altona became home to Australia's first female prime minister, Julia Gillard, a then resident of Altona. Gillard was voted in by the governing Australian Labor Party to replace Kevin Rudd as its leader, making her Australia's 27th Prime Minister.

Population

According to the , there were 11,490 people in Altona, with 67.3% of Altona residents born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 4.8%, New Zealand 2.5%, Malta 1.8%, India 1.4% and China 1.2%. 75.8% of residents only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Maltese 1.6%, Italian 1.6%, Greek 1.4%, Mandarin 1.4% and Vietnamese 1.1%. The most common responses for religion in were No Religion 42.3%, Catholic 28.1% and Anglican 6.6%.

The Altona Roosters complete in the Victorian Rugby League, and play home games at Loft Reserve, in neighbouring Newport.

Golfers play at the course of the Kooringal Golf Club on Wilga Avenue.

The area of Altona beach directly west of Altona Pier is one of Melbourne's most popular spots for kitesurfing.

Transport

Trains

Altona has two railway stations; Altona and Westona, both of which are on the Altona Loop. This is one of the two lines that runs between Newport and Laverton stations (the other being a Newport direct Express to Laverton track that operates along the former Geelong railway line, located along the northern boundary of Altona). Early morning and late night services to Werribee, as well as all weekend services, run via the Altona loop. At other times, the Altona loop is serviced by Laverton services.

Bus

  • Route 411: Laverton station to Footscray (via Altona Meadows and Altona)
  • Route 412: Laverton station to Footscray (via Altona Meadows and Altona)
  • Route 415: Laverton station to Williamstown (via Altona)
  • Route 903: Altona to Mordialloc (SMARTBUS Service)
  • Route 944: City to Point Cook (Night Bus Service)

Other

The Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail, a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians, follows the coast through Altona. It links up with a path around Cherry Lake. Most major roads have on-road cycleways.

Industry

thumb|left|Aerial perspective of the Mobil refinery and its surrounds in Altona. 2018

thumb|The Altona Petrochemical Complex in 2003

Local industry includes petrochemical storage, manufacturing and distribution. The Altona Petrochemical Complex was established in the early 1960s, utilising feedstocks from the nearby Altona Refinery, and later the Bass Strait gas fields, to produce a wide range of products for the chemical and plastics industry. The complex grew to become the largest petrochemical installation in the southern hemisphere and included major global chemical companies such as Dow Chemicals, Union Carbide, Hoechst, BF Goodrich and BASF. This was a major environmental concern to residents in the 1970s and 1980s. Strict environmental controls and local projects involving industry, government and environmental groups have reduced these concerns, cleaning up coastal areas that were once neglected.

Notable people

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Julia Gillard was an Altona resident while serving as Australia's 27th Prime Minister.

Former Australian Greens senator Janet Rice was born in Altona in 1960.

Adrian Tantari, Queensland politician,

and Lauren Edwards, British Labour Party MP for Rochester and Strood, were born in Altona.

See also

  • City of Altona – Altona was previously within this former local government area.
  • Altona Beach
  • Altona Meadows
  • Altona North
  • Seaholme

References

  • Local History of Altona