Footscray

Local History of the Suburb Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Footscray is a suburb located 5 kilometers west of Melbourne's central business district. The area is bordered by West Melbourne, Yarraville, Seddon, and Braybrook. The suburb has a long and fascinating history, from traditional Indigenous owners to a thriving industrial hub and a multicultural community.

The Wurundjeri people were the traditional owners of the land where Footscray is located. They had been living in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of the European settlers. They called the area Kinnear's Rope, which referred to the riverbank location where they made ropes out of the native flax. In 1835, the British colonial government of then Victoria purchased the land from the Wurundjeri people and divided it into parcels. In turn, the government sold it to European settlers who then established farms, vineyards, and orchards.

Footscray's early development was mainly agricultural, with the Yarra River being the primary means of transporting goods. However, in the late 1800s, the area experienced a building boom, with the establishment of the Steam Flour Mill, the Footscray Gas Company, and the purchase of the Victoria Brewery. The suburb developed into an industrial hub, with many factories, mills, and foundries established over the years such as the Commonwealth Engineering, the Phoenix Metal Company, and the Morrisons Foundry.

The suburb of Footscray attracted a diverse group of migrants throughout the 20th century. After World War II, many European immigrants arrived seeking a new life in Australia. In the 1970s, refugees from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos joined the community. Today, Footscray is known as one of Melbourne's most multicultural suburbs, with many Vietnamese, Chinese, and African communities calling it home.

Footscray has undergone significant changes over the years, particularly with the development of the Western Bulldogs AFL team and the completion of the Western Ring Road. The Footscray market and the area around Bendigo street have undergone massive gentrification since the mid-2000s, with many new cafes and trendy bars popping up.

In conclusion, the history of Footscray is an interesting and varied one, from its origins as land owned by the Wurundjeri people to a thriving industrial hub, and the influx of a diverse range of migrants. While the suburb has changed over the years, it remains an important part of Melbourne's cultural and historical fabric.