The City of Hobsons Bay is a local government area in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the south-western suburbs between 6 and 20 km from the Melbourne city centre.
It takes its name from Hobsons Bay, the water body off the east coast of the LGA, named after Captain William Hobson. The city has an area of 64 square kilometres, and in June 2018 had a population of 96,470.
History The City of Hobsons Bay was founded on 22 June 1994 from the amalgamation of the City of Williamstown, the City of Altona (including an industrial area that it had gained from the City of Sunshine less than 12 months earlier (Effective 1 October 1993.)), the suburb of South Kingsville from the City of Footscray, and the suburbs of Laverton, Seabrook and the western part of Altona Meadows from the City of Werribee.
Council
Starting with the 2024 election, Hobsons Bay has been restructured into seven single-member wards, with each councillor elected through preferential voting. Previously, councillors were chosen from three multi-member wards.
The councillors currently serving as of the 2024 election are:
WardPartyCouncillorNotesAltona Independent Daria Kellander Mayor 2024–2025Altona Meadows Independent Diana Grima Mayor 2025–presentAltona North Independent Labor Rayane Hawli Deputy Mayor 2024–2025Laverton Independent Labor Paddy Keys-MacphersonSpotswoodIndependent Kristin BishopWilliamstown Independent Lisa Bentley Deputy Mayor 2025–presentWilliamstown North Independent Michael Disbury
Education
Libraries The library, run by the council has five branches: Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Newport and Williamstown. Reflecting the multiculturalism of the community, the library service has a large amount of material in eight different languages.
The Environment Resource Centre is located in Altona library and provides the community access to resources concerning the environment, including initiatives and environmental groups in Hobsons Bay.
Transport
Suburban railway Hobsons Bay has seven train stations on the Werribee railway line, in PTV Zones 1 and 2. These stations are Spotswood, Newport, Seaholme, Altona, Westona, Laverton and Aircraft. Previously on this line were the stations of Mobiltown, Paisley, and Galvin.
Williamstown railway line is another service which runs through Hobsons Bay. It departs the Werribee railway line at Newport and visits the stations of North Williamstown, Williamstown Beach, and Williamstown.
Freeways
The interchange between the West Gate Freeway, Western Ring Road and Princes Freeway lies in the north-west of Hobsons Bay.
From Hobsons Bay, the West Gate Freeway provides access to the Melbourne CBD and eastern suburbs (over the iconic West Gate Bridge), the Princes Freeway provides access to outer south-western suburbs and Geelong, while the Western Ring Road leads to the northern suburbs and Melbourne Airport.
Townships and localities
The 2021 census, the city had a population of 91,322 up from 88,778 in the 2016 census
Population Locality 2016 2021 10,762 11,490 19,160 18,479 12,152 12,962 ^ 1,856 1,979 ^ 4,915 4,760 12,916 13,658 5,124 4,952 1,928 2,067 1,947 2,156 2,604 2,820 13,969 14,407 1,593 1,622
^ - Territory divided with another LGA
Sister cities Anjo, Aichi, Japan Shire of Buloke, Victoria, Australia (friendship alliance)
See also List of places on the Victorian Heritage Register in the City of Hobsons Bay List of Melbourne suburbs
References
External links
Hobsons Bay City Council Hobsons Bay Community Online Forum Metlink local public transport map Link to Land Victoria interactive maps - publisher of Hobsons Bay Times