Hobsons Bay

The City of Hobsons Bay is located on Port Phillip Bay. A major attraction is the historic seaport of Williamstown, which developed as a maritime centre during the mid-1800s. Most residential development did not occur until the latter half of the 20th century. This is a very multicultural municipality, with a large proportion of the population (almost 30 percent) born in non-English speaking countries, including the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Philippines, Lebanon and Macedonia. The City of Hobsons Bay is noted for its bayside restaurants, cafes and boutique shopping.

Population: 81,459

Cultural diversity: Around 29.1 percent of people living in Hobsons Bay were born outside Australia. Migrants have settled in Hobsons Bay from:

  • England (3.5%)
  • Italy (2.3%)
  • New Zealand (2.0%)
  • Malta (1.8%)
  • Vietnam (1.8%)

Main suburbs:

  • Altona
  • Newport
  • Williamstown
  • Spotswood
  • Seaholme

Location: 10 km west of city centre

Education: Visit Schools Online and search for the main suburbs listed above to find schools in Hobsons Bay. There is one university and one Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution in this municipality. To find out more about TAFEs, visit the Skills Victoria website.

Healthcare: There is one hospital in Hobsons Bay.

Major industries:

  • Motor vehicle and part manufacturing
  • Basic chemical manufacturing
  • Petroleum refining
  • Other transport equipment manufacturing

Cost of housing:

Type of housing Median purchase price Median rental price
Unit/apartment $317,500 $240 per week (2 bedroom flat)
House $450,000 $280 per week (3 bedroom house)

The above prices are from June 2008. For the most up-to-date housing prices, visit the REIV website.

Further information: For more information, visit the Hobsons Bay City Council website.

Last updated: 27 August 2009

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State Government of Victoria