Williamstown

On a reasonably fine day when there is little wind where better to go than Williamstown for brunch. The town began its life as the major port in the Colony of Victoria (that would be wrong. We would have been Colony of New South Wales then) before Melbourne took over, so it is quite historic with some of its streets lined with Victorian buildings. Williamstown was even considered for the status of capital city of Victoria but it lacked fresh water whereas Melbourne with its Yarra River did not.

Nelson Place, where you can sit and look out to a foreshore reserve and then the bay, is place tourists want to be and we are no different.

It was a little quiet when we were there for reasons I have now forgotten. It is only a twenty minute drive from home or the city, so it is very easy to get to and you can also catch the train which we have done in the past.

I must return to get a better photo of the wonderful art deco building.

There is a stationary ex naval war ship permanently moored at Gem Pier, HMAS Castlemaine.

We are now around at the boat ramp where warm water is released from the occasionally used gas fired power station nearby and the waters are called The Warmies. The warm water attracts fish and hence fisher folk. The water in the foreground is an inlet where the warm water is released. Beyond is the shipping channel leading to the mouth of the Yarra River and Melbourne's port facilities.

From Melbourne you travel to Williamstown by car using the West Gate Bridge, seen in this photo. The bridge needed to be high enough to allow container shipping to pass below.

When the power station is operating flame can be seen burning at the top of the chimney. Obviously not today though.

The boat ramp area has been nicely redeveloped in a practical manner for launching boats.

At quite a speed a pilot boat was travelling along the channel out into the bay. All large ships to enter Port Phillip with its very narrow and treacherous entrance must have a pilot on board to oversee the navigation and pilots board ships about ten kilometres out to sea from the entrance, known as the The Rip, and a rip in the ship hull is what may happen if the navigation is wrong.