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(Photo: (Photo: Russell Russell Cassar) Cassar)
(Photo: Russell Cassar)
ALTONA, the place to be No matter what the address in Altona, it’s never more than a six-minute drive to either the swimming beach, the iconic pier or the wonderful Cherry Lake. Mostly it’s less. This is a significant – though not the sole – reason for the rising number of families and singles moving in to Altona, writes Carole Levy Yes, there’s sea and lake and multiple reserves and a stunning pier as playgrounds for Altonians, but if you ask the locals you’ll hear just as often about the way you regularly run into friends and neighbours shopping, propped behind an alfresco coffee or picking up fish ‘n’ chips on Esplanade for Friday dinner.
Altona arts scene
While Altona has long been a literal hive of industry, it nevertheless has a seaside community soul, a strong identity underscored further following the influx of European migrants post WWII, bringing people who forged and relied on community links that continue to resonate today. Altona is a village, in a city, in a coastal locale, in Melbourne’s evolving west: the quadrella.
Seaside and lakeside
• The population at last census was 10,769
Wide green spaces of Cherry Lake reserve host a regular farmers market, and has a bike/walking path that links with the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail.
• First Australian cross-country flight was from Altona to Geelong in 1922
West of the famous pier is one of Melbourne’s most popular kitesurfing spots, and Altona’s calm beach offers perfect jet skiing and kite flying and wading for littlies.
• Altona’s First Peoples are Kurung-Jang-Balluk of the Woiwurrung
What goes on in Altona?
Getting sporty
It’s grown a café scene for one. Pier Street is always worth a stroll down to see what’s on the plate and smell the various coffee brews – or sniff the hops coming from a highly regarded craft beer brewery.
Altona is home to many sporting clubs including Aussie rules footy, soccer, hockey, basketball, cricket and lacrosse. Melbourne Ballpark is a baseball complex, and golfers hit the greens at Kooringal Golf Club. Altona Sports Club is another business with a sporting focus.
Mediterranean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, mod-Aus, Indian and Italian eateries bring the diversity demanded of Altona’s best-known strip, while the weekly Beach Market at Pier Street’s Logan Reserve attracts people from all over. Of course, there are neighbourhood cafes bedded down or sprouting in other places, emblematic of the trajectory this suburb is on – and to think it was once deemed the ‘bridesmaid of Williamstown’.
Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre is Altona’s cultural hub, with exhibitions, workshops, Arts Society and Joel Gallery, while amateur stage performers and singers can choose from three companies.
With all this, Altona is still affordable. First-home buyers can still snag a bargain, investors are getting in on solid returns, and families wanting a friendly coastal lifestyle can find their dream home. Altona is giving trendy Williamstown, Yarraville and Seddon a run for their money. The bridesmaid is definitely in line to catch the bouquet …
Did you know? • Altona is named after a suburb of Hamburg, Germany • It was first permanently settled in 1842 • Altona is nearly 17 square kilometres
• Altona was home to Australia’s 27th prime minister
DEMOGRAPHICS (government census data) POPULATION: 10,769 AVERAGE AGE: 40 to 59 OCCUPANCY: Owner: 67% Renter: 33% HOUSEHOLD: Family: 47% Single: 53%
MEDIAN PROPERTY PRICES (Domain) 3 Bedroom house $805k 2 Bedroom unit $530k