Footscray, Victoria, 3011: The complete suburb guide for buyers
Footscray is a major western suburb of Melbourne located approximately 6 kilometres west of the city. As one of the earliest European settled areas of Melbourne, Footscray continues to welcome residents from many different ethnic backgrounds, creating a culturally diverse community.
The suburb is a Melbourne melting pot best personified by the multitude of global cuisine along Nicholson and Barkly streets.
Footscray is a similar distance from Melbourne as South Yarra but without the soaring property prices.
The Maribyrnong River area of Footscray is seeing the largest amount of new development currently.
Why is Footscray called Footscray?
Maribyrnong, the name of the river, is an Anglicisation of an aboriginal word 'Mirring-gnay-bir-nong' which translates as "I can hear a ringtail possum" according to Museum Victoria.
For over 40,000 years Footscray was home to the Woimurrung and Boonwurrung tribes of the Kulin nation.
Footscray was named after an English town - Foots Cray - which European settlers along the Maribyrnong River hailed from.
How far is Footscray from the CBD?
As the crow flies: 6km
By rail: 9 minutes to Southern Cross station (direct), 15 minutes to Flinders Street (via City Loop).
By road: 7km via Dynon Road.
What train line is Footscray on?
Footscray is a major railway junction with regional and metro services stopping at the station's 6 platforms.
The Sunbury line (which has some services originating/terminating at Watergardens) serves Footscray as well as the Werribee, Williamstown and Laverton via Altona lines. In peak times, you will rarely have to wait more than a handful of minutes to catch a city-bound train.
Warrnambool, Geelong, Ballarat, Ararat, Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca V/line regional services all run through, and many stop, at Footscray station as well.
What is there to do in Footscray?
Eat, drink and cheer on the Western Bulldog's at Whitten Oval when they're training.
The Maribyrnong river has bike paths running along the western side of the river connecting the area to many other suburbs including Maribyrnong, Seddon, and other suburbs further up the river, such as Avondale Heights.
Footscray is a Melbourne melting pot that has seen many waves of post-war migration with southern European, Indochinese and Sub-Saharan African influences throughout the region.
Dong Ba, Rudimentary, Pho Tam, Konjo Café and Up in Smoke are some of the most well-known Footscray restaurants you could be living near.
The Footscray Community Arts Centre along the riverfront is a performance space that has a large year-round program of entertainment that you can also hire for events. The Footscray Drill Hall in West Footscray is a community centre that also acts as a performing arts practice space.
The Footscray Market located directly opposite Footscray station offers a wide range of fresh produce and general goods. The market is located on the ground floor and has two levels of car parking located above the complex. The market is open every day except Monday and Sunday.
What other institutions are located in Footscray?
Footscray Community Arts Centre is a thriving hub for Footscray's vibrant arts scene. The centre, with support from the Maribyrnong City Council, Footscray Rotary and Victoria University, presents the biennial Footscray Artice Prize for visual arts.
Footscray Hospital is a public hospital operated by Western Health at a campus on Gordon Street. The Victorian Government will be spending $1.5 billion on a new Footscray Hospital to be located opposite Victoria University's main campus. The new hospital is expected to open in 2025.
Victoria University has two campuses in the suburb. One at adjacent to Footscray Park is the larger of the two and the other campus is located on Nicholson Street to the south of Footscray station.
While not located in Footscray, Highpoint Shopping Centre is a short tram ride from central Footscray. The 82 tram between Footscray and Moonee Ponds, links Victoria University's Footscray Park campus, Highpoint Shopping Centre and the wider retail area in Maribyrnong.
Just over the other side of Maribyrnong River from Footscray Park is Flemington Racecourse, home of the Spring Racing Carnival.
Who lives in Footscray?
According to the 2016 census, 43.8% of all Footscray residents were born in Australia with the 5 top non-Australia place of birth countries including Vietnam (9.6%), India (6.7%), China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan - 3.9%), New Zealand (2.1%) and England (1.9%).
Vietnamese (11.4%) is the language spoken most at home after English, followed by Mandarin (4.2%), Cantonese (2.5%), Telugu (1.7%) and Greek (1.6%).
35.7% of people travel to work by public transport versus 43.1% who travel to work by car.
The median weekly household income for Footscray was $1,314 in the 2016 census, while the median age was 31 years old.
What new Footscray developments are in the pipeline?
There are over 60 new developments on the cards for Footscray.