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Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Photo: Sgroey, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Western suburbs of Melbourne include the areas of Airport West, Caroline Springs, Essendon, Kensington, Flemington, Footscray, Keilor, Melton, Point Cook, Sunshine, Sydenham, Werribee, Williamstown and Yarraville. Many of these suburbs will hold no interest for travellers but a few such as Footscray and Yarraville attract tourists for their restaurants and bars, while Flemington and Moonee Ponds may attract tourists for special events such as horseracing. There are also calm, safe beaches at Williamstown and Altona.
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Non-stop art exhibitions and an endless list of music gigs and theatre shows. In summer outdoor film screenings take place on the banks of the Maribyrnong River.
Artist-run art space in the same place as Trocadero (above)
An interesting cliff-face that overlooks the Werribee River, near the golf course. It's possible to launch canoes from the site along the river.
The former Moonee Ponds Courthouse houses a museum of the local area, run by the Essendon Historical Society. In June 2016, a fire damaged the building and the collection, but it was restored.
Interesting gallery with exhibitions, art history talks, adult art courses, and workshops.
The air-force base is still used for flying and training. Houses authentic aircraft in hangars, as well as numerous exhibitions and displays. Conducts free tours of the museum during weekdays. There are also options for pay joy-rides in old military aircraft.
A place to spend a relaxing day. There's a rose garden, a sunken garden, a lake, a cafe, and a 50-m pool open from November to March ($5.70 pool entry). Monuments include a cenotaph remembering Australia's dead in World War One, and a cairn marking the spot where the doomed Burke and Wills expedition camped on its first night heading out of Melbourne in 1860. There's a children's playground and an island rotunda, and if you follow the website link there's a brochure for a free self-guided local heritage walk starting and ending at the park.
An Italianate mansion from the 1870s, built by famous Scottish landlords Thomas and Andrew Chirnside. The building and its 60 rooms have been restored, and an audio tour is available. A café is available nearby. Paid tours depart Su-F at 11:30AM.
Houses a collection of artefacts, documents, maps and photos relating to the Werribee area's history.
A 10-acre park that used to be pastoral farmland. Includes fruit orchards, flower gardens, sculptures and wide open spaces. Contains many attractions, including Werribee Mansion and Zoo.
Winner of a global award for excellence, the gardens contain 5,000 roses in four interesting shapes. Roses look best from November to April.
An open range park with animals from the grasslands of Africa, Asia, North America and Australia.
One of Melbourne's Big Three horse racing venues, there are several race meetings a month in the busy season from September to March. The famous Cox Plate weight-for-age race is run here in late October each year.
Performing arts centre including drama, dance, music performances and movie screenings.
On the "wrong" side of the bay in terms of famous Melbourne beaches, Altona Beach is a strictly locals-only affair. However, because it is a very long, clean, sandy beach, with plenty of parking, it is known as the best beach in Melbourne's west. Altona has a thriving restaurant and cafe district nearby, centred around Pier St. There's even a big new (2024) jetty, and the esplanade is lined with mature trees which provide some shade. Accessible by train and bus, too.
Probably the best Ethiopian cuisine in the area, and not a main course over $12. Served in the traditional custom of sharing, the food is poured on layers of injera (flat, sour bread) covering one big plate to be shared by all at the table.
More Ethiopian cuisine, while local regulars pop in and out for a chat over excellent $2 Ethiopian coffee. All main courses $10.
A whole baked fish for $13, beans and egg in a mild stew for $8, nice dark "Amber Beer" from Ethiopia like a porter or mild stout.
Great entrees. The main courses not particularly cheap, but the entrees and dumplings are dirt cheap.
Same location as Konjo African Craft in the "Buy" section above. Features a $15 all-you-can-eat buffet lunch W-Sa (vegan on W and Th).
Outstanding slightly fancy French fusion food with a romantic ambience. You'd never guess you were in Footscray.
Filipino gelato with ever-changing, outlandish, delicious flavours. Once you try it, you'll wonder why they haven't taken over the world yet. They do take-away treats too. Worth waiting in line for.
WeFo's finest wood-fired pizza place. Unpretentious and delicious, good for families. Dining out front, inside and in courtyard.
If you're ever in Footscray and feel like a gourmet sandwich that isn't a Banh Mi, this place is for you. They're so big you can easily share them, particularly the chicken schnitty and reuben sangers.
Salamatea كافه سلامتى
When the airport rail link is built through Sunshine, more tourists will have a reason to experience this suburb. This is a nice cafe with great coffee, food and service. It is particularly known for its Persian food. This cafe is also a social organisation which employs and trains people of refugee backgrounds.
Popular plant-based DIY frozen yoghurt place in the middle of the lively Yarraville restaurant and shopping strip. If coming by car, park a few streets away.
Supremely busy laksa place in the lively Newmarket shopping strip. Discount if paying by cash.
Yes it is out in Melton, but if you're in the area, this is one of the best Latino restaurants in Melbourne. Expect the usual South American fare, plus regional specialties like Papusas and Arepas, all delicious.
Footscray - Opposite the Town Hall. Casual bar, indoor and outdoor seating, coffee. One of the "Top five places to eat steak" as judged by The Age Good Food Guide Dining Companion 2010.
Casual, cosy, tucked-away bar with interesting beers (including a beer lucky dip!) with board games and repurposed bus seats.
Bar (upstairs) and bottle shop (downstairs) with a humongous number of beers on tap, plus wine and fancy spirits. Order pizza from the place across the street using QR codes at your table, or BYO food. Seating out front or upstairs. You can choose from the larger bottle shop selection and drink there as well.
Lovingly restored old pub with great food, dining areas inside, in courtyard, or outside.
On-site independent brewery with comfortable drinking area with open fireplace. There's usually food trucks out front.
As WeFo gentrifies, outstanding little wine bars like this one are now possible. Get the staff to recommend you a bottle. Charcuterie and nibbles also available.
A hidden brewery worth making a trip for. Easily reached by the bike and pedestrian Maribyrnong River Trail. they also have outstanding pizza.
Above a large pub.
Footscray Market is a fresh produce, meat, poultry and seafood market, catering particularly to the various ethnicities and local restaurants. There's also eateries, nut and coffee stalls, tobacconists and a few variety shops. It has the reputation as one of the cheapest places in Melbourne to shop so if you're cooking for yourself it's definitely worth a look. Or just wander around and enjoy the sights and sounds of business going on around you.
Store selling Ethiopian food and crafts: spices, flours, raw and roasted coffee, pots, wood craft, clothing and jewellery. Also has a cafe.
formerly Werribee Plaza
A variety of specialty item stores including mens and ladies fashion, banks, beauty and food stores. Has over 150 stores including a 10-screen cinema.
A go-to shop for Indian ingredients, spices, food, homewares and other accoutrements.
A new bookshop and hangout space with all the trimmings, including coffee and vinyl.
Hobsons Bay
Trains on both the Werribee and Williamstown lines stop at Yarraville, Spotswood and Newport railway stations.
Moonee Ponds
Wyndham
Regional trains on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines call at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations.
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