Footscray
Footscray Overview
Footscray is an inner-western suburb of Melbourne, Australia, 6 km from Melbourne's Central Business District. Its local government area is the City of Maribyrnong. Footscray’s status as a key cultural, commercial and educational hub has been recognised with the Victorian Government recently confirming that the fast-evolving suburb would become Melbourne’s sixth Priority Precinct.
Footscray forms the cultural heart of the west and is also a major health and education centre. It is the gateway between Melbourne’s CBD and the wider western suburbs, providing key access beyond the city limits to regional Victoria. Additionally, major infrastructure projects under way will make Footscray more accessible than ever to greater Melbourne. This declaration of Footscray as a Priority Precinct will ensure these infrastructure projects underway are co-ordinated and delivered in partnership with the community and local government.
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 Greek, Italian and former Yugoslavian migrants, it later became a hub for Vietnamese and East African immigrants in Melbourne. It has recently begun to undergo rapid development and gentrification, and Timeout Magazine placed Footscray at 13th in its '50 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World' for 2019, reflecting its evolving reputation; citing in particular its diverse array of international cuisine, bars and nightlife, as well as the emerging arts scene.
Footscray Development and Investment
New Footscray Hospital
The Victorian Government has provided up to $1.5 billion to deliver a new Footscray Hospital – the largest ever health infrastructure investment in the state. This new hospital will support the increasing demand from Melbourne’s booming western suburbs, ensuring families can get the care they need close to home. With an increase of nearly 200 beds, the new hospital will treat approximately 15,000 additional patients and enable around 20,000 additional people to be seen by the emergency department each year. The New Footscray Hospital is expected to open in 2025.
New Apartments and Townhouses
Transport Infrastructure
ACCESS TO MELBOURNE AND BEYOND IS A BREEZE FROM FOOTSCRAY. LOCATED JUST 6 KILOMETRES FROM THE CITY, TRANSPORT OPTIONS WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE WILL TAKE YOU WHEREVER YOU NEED TO GO.
TRAMS ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Tram route 82 is one of the last surviving routes from the historic Footscray tram network and takes you from the corner of Leeds and Irving Streets (near Footscray Market and the railway station) to Moonee Ponds Junction via the Western Hospital and Highpoint Shopping Centre.
CONNECTING TRAINS
Another landmark in Footscray, the railway station is a piece of local history, opening in 1859 to service the suburb. It is well placed on the Sunbury, Weribee, Williamstown metropolitan lines - less than 6km from Southern Cross station.
ACCESS TO THE CBD IS A HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM FOOTSCRAY. JUST THREE SHORT STOPS WILL HAVE YOU RIGHT IN THE CENTRE OF THE CITY — AND READY FOR EVERYTHING THAT MELBOURNE HAS TO OFFER.
Education
Kindergartens
Angliss Children's Centre – Corner of Vipont Street & Seelaf Square.
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. The State Government is closing the Steiner stream in 2012.
Footscray North Primary School, corner Rosamond Rd and Mephan Street, Footscray.
Footscray Primary School, previously known as Geelong Road Primary, offers the International Baccalaureate, and Vietnamese Bilingual Programme.
St. John's Catholic Primary School, 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 School 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 High School - Kinnear Campus. Opened in May 1980 as Footscray Technical School, after the school moved from the original site in Ballarat Rd, that opened in 1916. The name was changed to Footscray City Secondary College in 1989, and later to Footscray City College. Co-Ed, 1000 students, VCE, TAFE and more offered.
Originally Footscray Technical School offered years 7-11, but went onto to offer years 7-12. With the change to the Kinnear Campus as part of the Footscray Learning Precinct initiative, it will offer years 8-12 from 2020, before moving to years 10-12 only by 2022.
Gilmore Girls College, previously known as Footscray Girls Secondary College, government run, academically focussed.
Universities
Victoria University, Footscray Park, a seven-hectare site, swimming pool and gym open to the public.
Victoria University, Footscray Nicholson, range of TAFE programs.
Victoria University
Footscray Park is the largest of Victoria University’s campuses. Adjacent to parklands and overlooking Flemington Racecourse, students enjoy a village atmosphere created by restaurants and cafes amidst world-class sports science facilities, state-of-the-art lecture theatres and learning commons, and an aquatic & fitness centre.
Offering a vast number of courses including business, engineering and education, Footscray’s Victoria University is already a beacon for local and international students. The Footscray University Town initiative is further opening up opportunities for investment, enterprise and employment in the precinct, building on existing strengths such as industrial heritage, growing creative and recreational industries, sports facilities and vibrant cultural diversity.
WITH OVER 100 YEARS OF HISTORY AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY HAS A FOCUS ON ACADEMIA, RESEARCH AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING. IT IS RANKED IN THE WORLD’S TOP 2%* OF UNIVERSITIES, AND PROUDLY HOSTS OVER 40,000 STUDENTS AND AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY.
PARKS AND RECREATION
FOOTSCRAY IS SURROUNDED BY PARKS, NATURE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE FRESH AIR. TAKE IN THE SPECTACULAR SIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES THAT THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDS OFFER.
FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE
The scene of Australia’s most famous horse race, the Melbourne Cup, Flemington is activated all year-round. More than just a racecourse, it’s a place of excitement, possibility and socialising — where friends and bets are made, and no opportunities lost. The annual spring racing carnival is the pinnacle of the calendar, supported by various food events and the tradition of the circus coming to town.
WHITTEN OVAL
Home of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, this oval has been a football training ground since 1879. With such a rich history — and named after Ted Whitten, a former player, captain and coach for the club — it stands within a proud tradition of Australian football. Here is a place to gather and enjoy a picnic while supporting some good oldfashioned competition.
MARIBYRNONG RIVER
Starting on the slopes of Mount Macedon and flowing to Port Philip, the Maribyrnong River has been a site of communal gathering for tens of thousands of years. Today, it remains a drawcard for locals seeking leisure for any reason — walking, cycling, canoeing, hand-net fishing, picnic or barbecue.
Food and Culture
MELBOURNE’S UNTAPPED CULTURAL GEM, FOOTSCRAY DELIVERS BRILLIANTLY ON DIVERSE DINING EXPERIENCES. IF YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD IN GENERAL, AND FLAVOURS FROM AROUND THE WORLD — THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.
PLOUGH HOTEL
Established in 1868, the Plough Hotel offers locally sourced produce accompanied by house-made ingredients, regional wine and craft beer. Enjoy the down-to-earth hospitality and cosy, yet bright, atmosphere that has made it a Footscray icon.
STATION HOTEL
Like anything authentic, the concept of the Station Hotel is simple: a relaxed, informal pub environment with well-prepared food — including 11 different cuts of steak — plenty of cold beer and a small and interesting wine list.
8 BIT BURGER
Indulge is simpler times and tastes at 8bit, which serves up Melbourne’s finest hamburgers, shakes, fries and hot dogs.
LITTLE FOOT BAR
The definition of a local’s bar, Littlefoot is inspired by the culinary diversity of its neighbourhood. This ‘cultural fusion’ informs the tastes and sensations offered — while their mission to minimise their environmental footprint will leave you feeling extra good.
WEST48
Exceptional food and coffee in an industrial, rustic setting, West 48 is a perfect example of Melbourne’s iconic café culture. Get acquainted with the community over enticing dishes that suit families and foodies alike.
FOOTSCRAY MARKETS
Buzzing with activity from Tuesday to Saturday is this indoor market located opposite the train station, with easy access to trams and buses and 800 car park spaces available as well. You’ll find everything from fruit and veg, meats, poultry and seafood to lotus flowers, pigs’ ears, cassava route and other exotic ingredients and flavours.
CULTURAL FOOD
The multicultural community of Footscray boasts a global flavour profile and here you can indulge your international palate when the mood takes you. Colourful, diverse and full of interest — eateries offering an array of specialties from across Asia and Europe will tantalise your tastebuds. Little Saigon market — one of Melbourne’s most-loved Vietnamese experiences — is currently undergoing redevelopment to relaunch late 2017 to much anticipation.
LOCAL RESTAURANTS
Once only a local’s neighbourhood, Footscray is building up a smorgasbord of premium restaurants, pubs and other eateries that are enticing food-lovers to the precinct from across Melbourne. With its unique cultural history and many of its establishments identifying a focus on fresh, local produce, Footscray has something special to offer to Melbourne’s thriving food movement.
CAFE CULTURE
If there’s one thing that Melbourne does not compromise on, it’s coffee. Here café culture is taken to the next level, with a passion for quality beans and boutique local roasters marking an ongoing love affair with the humble drink. Within Footscray, home to generations of Europe’s finest, the coffee — and the culture — is second to none.
HIGHPOINT SHOPPING CENTRE
A world-class shopping destination is on your doorstep. Highpoint houses over 500 stores including Australian and international designer fashion, homewares and lifestyle brands, as well as key department stores. Shop, dine and be entertained within the one complex — from movie theatres to bowling alley and children’s recreational facility, fun for families and for all ages is waiting.
A CHANGE IS TAKING PLACE IN FOOTSCRAY. FOLLOWING THE LIKES OF COLLINGWOOD, FITZROY AND RICHMOND, THE POTENTIAL OF THIS FORMER WORKING-CLASS INDUSTRIAL SUBURB IS BEING REALISED. VISIONS OF HISTORY AND CULTURE SHAPED BY CONTEMPORARY EXPERIENCE ARE BROUGHT TO LIFE IN FOOTSCRAY THROUGH VARIOUS LOCAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
