Maribyrnong lies within the metropolis area of Melbourne city, comprising of the inner western suburbs of the downtown. As a result of merger between the parts of the City of Sunshine and the City of Footscray, Maribyrnong was constituted in the year 1994, with a current population of around 72,000. Its ideal location and convenience of access from Melbourne CBD makes it a must-visit for your holiday trip. Don’t forget to choose Melbourne bus charter for a convenient ride to explore this city!
About The City Of Maribyrnong
The city of Maribyrnong is the 2nd most ethnically diverse populace in Australia as per the data given by the local government. Around 40% of its population is of non-Australians. Over the past decade or so, the sort of development that has occurred at this place will probably continue for a long time to come.
This is something unique to the parts of inner city, making Maribyrnong a place of challenges, opportunities and diversity. Many of the industrial sites in the city have been converted into residential complexes, with population increasing year by year. The trend is likely to continue with more people finding home in this peaceful location.
Apart from the populace dynamics, community’s social character has also undergone transformation, with relatively more educated and high income people residing in the society. Being in close proximity to the capital city of Melbourne, the city has also managed to attract cultural groups and tourists from across the world. There are plenty of attractions and things to do in this wonderful suburban region.
Pipemakers Park
Located on the western bank of the Maribyrnong River, the Pipemakers Park has been built on a site that was previously used for meat preserving. The historic buildings have been retained and turned into a museum open to general public. Frog Hollow and Burndap Park also falls in the jurisdiction of Maribyrnong City Council. It was way back in mid-19th century, when Joseph Raleigh started a boiling down works on river’s bank. Humes Pipe acquired the Meat preserving company in 1991, which was later converted into parkland by the MMBW in 1980s. The park sits nicely on the floodplain of the river underneath a sharp escarpment of the basalt plains.
Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West
Living Museum of the West in the western suburb of Maribyrnong is a community social history museum and an eco-museum that was originally established as a part of 150-year anniversary of Victoria in 1984, along with Chinese Museum and Children’s Museum. Known to be the first of its kind, the museum emphasizes on stories of people in the Western region, extending from Sunbury to Werribee and Footscray to Bacchus Marsh.
The massive collection of the museum includes artefacts, tapes and documents at the resource centre, as well as exhibition materials, oral histories, photographs, drawings, maps, reports, articles and published books. There are around 10,000 images, both historic and contemporary photos documenting the region, along with 5000 archival records and 500 artefacts. Oral history recording is the most important collection focussing on themes of industry, culture, heritage, work, migration, women and environment in the community, in addition to stories of people from the west Melbourne.
Maribyrnong River
Commencing on the slopes of Mount Macedon and flowing towards the Port Philip, Maribyrnong River has played a vital role in the development of western suburban region of Melbourne. For over 400 decades, aboriginal tribes have frequented the river banks. If you are seeking a great canoe experience, these waters are exceptionally good. Also, there are ponding points designed for people of all ages and abilities to catch a fish with a net.
The park has a shared cycling and walking path, picnic tables and shelters, along with barbecues. Fairbairn Park and Maribyrnong Park are on the either side of the river, with picnic facilities and boat landing available as well. Following the river’s bank are the bicycle tracks, crossing the pedestrian bridges at several spots. You can use these trails to get to Pipemakers Park. One should always be bushfire ready to face a crisis situation in the park.
Highpoint Shopping Centre
No place is complete without a full-fledged shopping precinct. The Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong is known to be the 4th largest shopping centre in Australia, with as many as 500 stores, including a Digital IMAX theatre, Hoyts Cinemas, JB Hi-Fi, Toys R Us, Best & Less, Woolworths supermarket, Topman, Topshop, Zara, Big W, Target, Harris Scarfe, a 2-level David Jones Department Store and a four level Myer department store.
It has recently undergone a massive renovation to accommodate 100 new stores. Being the largest shopping centre serving the western suburbs of Melbourne, it has over 15 million shoppers visiting every year. You surely wouldn’t want to miss out shopping here, while in Maribyrnong!
Footscray Park
This one of a kind Edwardian Park in Maribyrnong is one of the largest in the country, spread across an area of 15 hectares, located on the south bank of the river. It is classified as a heritage site for its social, horticultural and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria. The park is noted for its garden structures, ornamental ponds and botanical collection. The moment you enter this place, you will be gripped by the wrought iron gates and stone walls incorporating the names. There’s a war memorial standing at the entranceway, featuring an Italian-style sculpture on a base of granite.
You can take a panoramic view towards the Flemington Racecourse and Maribyrnong River from the rustic stone lookout shelter and pergola. Honouring the great Australian writer and poet is a mounted bust of Henry Lawson. There are a couple of major paths running north-south, known as T.B. Drew Memorial Walk, which bisects the paths running east-west along the bank. The embankment descends through arbour to Thomson Water Garden.
If you are travelling in a group, remember to use minibus hire in Melbourne for a convenient group ride to the Maribyrnong destinations!