News
September 30, 2014
In the 1930s, Altona was well known as a holiday and fishing village. Following WW1, a steady influx of families moved into Altona and the population grew. In 1928, the Werribee Shire appointed Dr Louis Joel of Newport as the medical officer of Altona. At that time, with no trained […]
February 4, 2017
James Duke moved to Altona in 1917 with his wife Mary from Brunswick where they had contributed to Victoria’s growing population by producing 12 children. Although many of the children had reached maturity by the time they moved to Altona, there was still a brood at home needing James’ attention, […]
February 4, 2017
A story about Altona Homestead and Logan Reserve From a modest beginning, the industrial welfare movements inaugurated by several Melbourne business firms have grown into large undertakings, and the number of employees taking advantage of the establishments provided by their employers has increased rapidly. About three years ago a large […]
March 5, 2017
Over 600 years of Altona’s History enjoying Devonshire Tea today. Be sure to check out our events page on and join us for our next Devonshire Tea.
March 5, 2017
Any scones left after our Devonshire Tea do not go to waste – we donate them to Altona Lions Club Soup Kitchen, straight after our event, for them to distribute that afternoon … a little help to those less fortunate!
July 22, 2017
It is with much sadness that the members of the Altona Laverton Historical Society acknowledge the passing of a great identity and contributor to the well being of the Altona community, Doug Grant on 20th July 2017. Not only was Doug a former Mayor and Councillor but he contributed a […]
August 6, 2017
What I learnt from my visit to the Altona Homestead. For her efforts, Eliza was awarded the ‘Principal’s Award’ at St. Mary’s Altona.
August 11, 2017
The members of Seabreeze Quilters and the Altona Laverton Historical Society, would love to show you all things ‘quilted’ in our beautiful Altona Homestead — and invite you to join them each weekend as our members sit and sew. The Homestead will be open each Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 […]
October 8, 2017
The Altona High School / Altona Secondary College display, hosted by the Altona Laverton Historical Society, at the Altona Homestead will commence on Sunday 8th October 11am – 2pm. The display includes school memorabilia, honour boards, sports pennants, trophies and the collection of student/teacher photo albums from 1980 onwards. This […]
October 25, 2017
The Altona Progress Association and the Progress Hall (now Altona Baptist Church in Sargood Street, Altona) turns 100 years old this year. From humble beginnings when Altona was a small village of between 50 and 500 residents a number of these residents were already thinking of improvements. From the […]
February 5, 2018
The Altona-Laverton Historical Society congratulations the Altona Football Club as it celebrates 100 years since its formation in 1918. The club owes its existence to a number of Altona business people, at that time, including James Duke and Dick Blomberg who saw a need and set about establishing the club. […]
March 30, 2018
Altona and Laverton communities flourished in the wake of two world wars. People from Europe flocked into our area to make a new home for their families. War was the catalyst for change and peace was the result as military personnel returned home to Altona and Laverton or made the area their new home. The […]
April 19, 2018
As we edge closer to the 25th April, ANZAC Day, we should remember what this day means. On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. These became known as Anzacs and the pride they […]
June 15, 2018
Altona Laverton Historical Society Archivist, Ann Cassar, has been researching the Cherry Family of Altona for several years and documentary information about this pioneering family is currently on file at the Altona Homestead Museum. The name ‘Cherry’ is familiar to most people within Hobsons Bay through its long association with […]
August 26, 2018
The Altona-Laverton Historical Society is proud to present the History of Altona Hospital. This publication is a unique opportunity to read about ‘A Bush Hospital by the Bay’, (the history) its staff, volunteers and what made it so special and important to our community. It is more than the record […]
December 10, 2018
On Saturday, December 21, 1968, on the lawns of the new Civic Offices in Civic Parade, the Proclamation Ceremony of the City of Altona was undertaken by his excellency Major-General Sir Rohan Delacombe the Governor of Victoria. The Honourable R J Hamer, Minister for Local Government made the presentation of […]
February 20, 2019
The Williamstown Chronicle February 19,1954 reported that £35000 pounds had been spent to open a Speed Track (around the perimeter of Cherry Lake) and that record crowds were expected at Altona. The Age,Monday,March 8 1954 reported that the inaugural car meeting at Altona Road Race Circuit on that day would have 10 of Australia […]
February 21, 2019
The Altona-Laverton Historical Society in partnership with the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre and the John Shaw Neilson Society are pleased to present two events in March. John Shaw Neilson is arguably one of Australia’s best poets but unfortunately he has lacked the recognition that he deserved. The first […]
February 26, 2019
2019 marks the 70th Anniversary of operations at the Altona Refinery which commenced the production of lubricants and bitumen on 22 July 1949 as part of a joint venture between Vacuum Oil Company (Mobil) and Standard Oil (Exxon). At an initial construction cost of £1m, it was widely acknowledged as an […]
April 1, 2019
Oh to be a kid again, when times were simpler and there was just your imagination to keep you entertained. Step back in time at the Altona Homestead and take a peek at games and toys from days gone by when electronics was something that was ‘futuristic’ and a thing […]
April 11, 2019
In 1919 the Repatriation Department was created by the Australian government to facilitate the repatriation of our servicemen and women, many of whom bore the physical and psychological scars of war. the department provided war pensions, a soldier settlement scheme and other vital services such as healthcare, education, housing and […]
April 12, 2019
As we lead up to the 17 May 2019 we reflect back 100 years when Williamstown grew from a town to a city. Sir Arthur Stanley, the State Governor, when proclaiming Williamstown as a City (17 May 1919) noted that – “their town (so long famous as William’s Town) to […]
June 1, 2019
Hello members and friends of Altona-Laverton Historical Society, As we head towards the end of June and the end of another year for our Committee I thought it would be timely to reflect on the great work that has been achieved by the Committee and active members. This year we […]
June 4, 2019
Lost Lands Found is presented by Dean Stewart in partnership with Hobsons Bay City Council Lost Lands Found is a brand new high-density development and an ecological art project being established in Logan Reserve in Altona. However, this new urban development is not highlighting people, but significantly our ecological neighbours […]
June 10, 2019
While the postal service in Altona commenced on March 15 1918, the current building opened its doors to the customers of Altona on Thursday July 10 1969. The Post Office was official opened, that day, by Mr Merv Lee, the Federal Member for Lalor who officially handed over the keys […]
August 29, 2019
November 9, 1969 saw the final services held in the old church of St Eanswythe in Queen Street, Altona. The following day the old church building was demolished and a week later the first sod was turned on the new building site by Bishop Dann. All the parishioners lined the […]
January 3, 2020
In January 1920 advertisements and articles began to appear in local and Melbourne newspapers announcing the opportunity to purchase prime land in the new subdivision of Seaholme next door to ‘Melbourne’s famous seaside resort of Altona Beach’ and near the ‘only great beach on the west side of the Bay’. […]
March 17, 2020
To our community – The safety of our community and volunteers is our priority as we all come to terms with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19). As a precaution the Homestead will not be open and our Devonshire Tea events will be cancelled until further notice comencing from today […]
April 6, 2020
As we all try to reconcile ourselves into our 21st century version of social and economic disruption and being forced into lockdown and isolation with COVID-19 we need only look back 100 years when our brave servicemen began to return from WWI to Australia. Unfortunately they didn’t just bring back […]
April 19, 2020
Williamstown Racecourse Station In April 1885 the shortest railway line in the colony was built to service the then Williamstown Racecourse. The line branched off the Newport to Geelong railway line near where the Mobil Refinery is located and stopped just north of Kororoit Creek along Racecourse Road. The line […]
April 21, 2020
The 25th April 2020 will mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings. At around 4.30 a.m. on Sunday 25th April 1915 the first soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed near Ari Burnu on the Gallipoli Peninsula, mostly landing at a place that became known as […]
May 5, 2020
As the COVID-19 continues and the Homestead remains closed, we that that what we would try and do is bring the Homestead to you. So whilst you can’t come in we have provided details on a number of the Homestead rooms as well as some images. Please enjoy the first […]
May 5, 2020
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there. To make your Mum’s day just that little bit more special why don’t you whip up a batch of warm scones with the topping of her choice. So here is our special recipe to get you going. Alton-Laverton Historical Society Scone […]
May 14, 2020
Next week is National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of all volunteers. The theme this year is “Changing Communities. Changing Lives”. On behalf of the Committee of the Altona-Laverton Historical Society we would like to give a huge thank you the many volunteers that assist […]
May 29, 2020
This week is reconciliation week and is a great time to remind ourselves of the history and culture of the indigenous people of this area and Australia. By understanding the ways of the indigenous people past, present and emerging we can all understand how we can all connect with each […]
July 9, 2020
To our valued Hobsons Bay community Following the state government’s decision to reintroduce Stage 3 restrictions, the Homestead will remain closed but as things change over the next month or two we will reconsider our options. We are sad to be keeping our doors closed but we will continue to […]
July 13, 2020
If you thought that this scene could only be an English one, then think again. The Hunt with horses, hounds, ladies and landowners was a sight that would have been seen with some frequency across the Werribee, Williamstown and Altona plains during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. To learn […]
August 19, 2020
LAD SURVIVES ALTONA BOATING TRAGEDY, ONLY TO DIE LATER OF SPANISH FLU Sadly Altona has seen some tragic events over the years due to its location alongside the some times unpredictable bay of Port Phillip. Another one we came across recently was the sad loss of two men while fishing […]
September 2, 2020
After conducting services in a building that was transferred from Laverton in 1933, the building was demolished in 1969 to make way for a new Church Centre that was constructed by local builder H & L Weaver Pty Ltd. Work started with the demolition of the old building in early […]
December 9, 2020
Welcome to our new project looking at the lives and contributions of early European pioneers to the Altona and Laverton area. We will take a glimpse into the hard work and endeavour they brought in order to make this area of Melbourne’s west such a great place for us to […]
March 3, 2021
Last year, due to COVID, we were unable to spend as much time meeting at the Altona Homestead, but this did not stop our members undertaking hundreds of hours of work from their homes. Our members have been busy answering emails regarding all aspects of life in the early days […]
April 18, 2021
Devonshire Teas at the Homestead are back commencing Sunday 1 May 2022. We are continuing with the booking changes that we introduced last year. Are bookings necessary? Yes, due to COVID safety and to limit the number of people, within the Homestead space, we have limited our seating to 30 people […]
May 15, 2021
The Langhorne grave within the Williamstown cemetery holds a mystery that has only been revealed with a member of our society decided to look into the condition of both the Langhorne graves and their headstones. The unfortunate Sarah was interred in a grave in Williamstown Cemetery. Using a double plot, […]
June 4, 2021
Tweddle was born in 1920 out of a desire to stop significant infant mortality, malnutrition and infection affecting thousands of Victorian babies. In the early 1920’s when Tweddle commenced, mums and dads would ride their bikes or walk for miles pushing huge prams to get to Tweddle but today, everyone […]
July 10, 2021
WWW.HobsonsBayQRwalks.com.au is a QR code podcast installation created by local artist Gina Kennedy with contributions from over 50 members of the Hobsons Bay Community. QR codes will be installed on the footpaths to scan and listen to local stories while you’re out for a walk. The QR Codes will be installed at […]
September 11, 2021
When COVID restrictions prevent us from getting about we turn to projects that we can do at home or online, which is what a number of our members are currently undertaking. We recently received an email from a former resident of Altona who is currently living in New South Wales […]
September 12, 2021
It was in the middle of March this year when member Russell Grant alerted us to the fact that a pianola that had been in his family for over 100 years, much of that time spent at the Truganina Explosives Reserve (50+ years), would soon be in need of a […]
September 24, 2021
This week’s earthquake was the largest recorded in Victoria, since 1835, but it not the first. Earthquakes have been recorded being felt in and around Melbourne since 1841 and appear to happen more frequently than people realise because most are classified as tremors rather than quakes. The last sizeable earthquakes […]
November 14, 2021
Councillor Peter Hemphill, the longest serving, Hobsons Bay City Council, councillor was elected to his third term as mayor. He joins former councillor, Angela Altair, as the only Hobsons Bay councillor to serve for three mayoral terms. As the representative for the Strand Ward, Councillor Hemphill is Hobsons Bay’s longest-serving […]
April 4, 2022
Devonshire Teas at the Homestead are back commencing Sunday 1 May 2022. We are continuing with the booking changes that we introduced last year. Are bookings necessary? Yes, due to COVID safety and to limit the number of people, within the Homestead space, we have limited our seating to 30 people […]
April 21, 2022
The Late Victorian Society of Melbourne partnered with the Altona Laverton Historical Society for a fully immersive Victorian experience at the Altona Homestead last week. Living historians dressed for the era presented life in that period, giving visitors a sense of stepping back in time to Victorian Melbourne. This was […]
August 6, 2022
The Altona Laverton Historical Society is need of your help. We are looking for copies of Melbourne street directories between 1950 and 1966. There were a number of companies producing these including Collins, Morgan, Gregory and UBD. We have access to digitised copies of pre 1952 and post 1966 directories […]