Our goal is to celebrate, remember, and preserve the unique and diverse history of Williamstown, Newport, and Spotswood for generations to come. We aim to make our collections accessible to the broader community for research and interest purposes.

Our volunteer organisation, established in 1956 by local history enthusiasts, has been operating for almost 70 years as a non-profit.

Williamstown

Williamstown, situated on a narrow peninsula on Port Phillip Bay, was known by the local indigenous inhabitants as 'Koort - Boork - Boork', meaning a clump of she-oak trees.

Originally considered as a potential location for a new town in the colony of New South Wales, due to its safe harbour and anchorage at the mouth of a river, the lack of fresh water and building materials led John Batman to select the site of Melbourne as a more suitable location.

Situated just 11 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, this former seaport still retains its historic charm and exudes a country town atmosphere amidst the surrounding suburbs. This small peninsula has witnessed numerous significant events throughout history.



Spotswood

Spotswood is named after the first resident, John Stewart Spotswood, who purchased a 119-acre plot for dairy farming and quarrying in 1847.

In the late 19th century, the arrival of the railways transformed Spotswood into a thriving industrial hub. The wide, open basalt plains were quarried for their high-quality local bluestone, due to their proximity for transport via rail to the Port of Williamstown.