Representative of Williamstown’s maritime history, large scale maritime industry dominates Williamstown's piers precinct and a maritime theme characterises the Nelson Place tourism precinct. BAE Systems Australia's Marine division (formerly Tenix) has operated out of Williamstown dockyards for nearly 20 years, during which time it has built ANZAC-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, and will also conduct completion of the Canberra class Landing Helicopter Dock vessels. The Nelson Place tourism precinct offers some of Melbourne's best waterfront eateries, many catering for al fresco dining and some with spectacular views of Melbourne's city skyline through the masts of bobbing boats on the foreshore. Also located on Nelson Place is a diverse range of arts, crafts and other speciality shops.
HMAS Castlemaine, berthed at Williamstown (and seen in the first photo) is open for public inspection and allows visitors to explore an original World War 2 warship. She is one of the 60 Australian-built Bathurst class corvettes to serve throughout World War Two and the last such vessel still afloat, having been restored by volunteers over three decades. Castlemaine is open to the public on weekends and public holidays.Today visitors can see how crews lived and worked during the war years, witness the original engines turning over and view a wide range of artefacts documenting Australian maritime history.
This post is part of the Watery Wednesday meme.
Thank you for the great tour of Williamstown. I like the gulls and the little coastal town. Bill would enjoy touring the warship (and so would I once I got there).
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, what a great tour indeed, Nick! Love your photos. Birds, boats and water! Doesn't get any better than that. Hope your week is going well!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
all i can say, all your photos are so beautiful..how i wish i am also a pro..
ReplyDeletewonderful to see your world.
ReplyDeleteContinue to be impressed by the all-peacefulness around.
ReplyDeleteGreat little town - lots to do and really close to the city.
ReplyDeleteLovely shots. The dockside shots are great and I especially like the architecture in the last shot.
ReplyDeleteWilliamstown as a whole somehow reminds me of a well appointed cruise ship with many many shops onboard! So many cafes/restaurants with a nautical theme too! Love all these perspectives of the one time I wandered in this world!
ReplyDeleteI'll make sure I visit your suburb next time I'm in Melbourne!
ReplyDeleteYou live in a very beautiful place, and thanks for sharing them to us. I travel the world through the photos shared here.
ReplyDeleteI hope it stays a working industrial area. Sydney Harbour has been ruined of all industrial ie work traffic, and it is now mainly pleasure boats.
ReplyDeleteThis would be on my must see sights if I could make it to Melbourne.
Oh how I love a nautical image Nick and these are excellent. Would very much like to see what life was like on board the Castlemaine during the war.
ReplyDeleteI first went to Williamstown on a heritage walking tour in the very early '70s, can you believe. It has changed so much since then. I took a ferry down there a couple of years ago now. I love it now, but for different reasons. It is amazingly historic, or maybe that is just what jumped out at me.
ReplyDeleteA great heritage streetscape.
ReplyDeleteYes, Nick, Williamstown is indeed a delightful area to visit - full of atmosphere and a marvellous view across the water to Melbourne's CBD. Great shots; thanks for the reminders of happy visits there.
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