Australia Day: Hobsons Bay set for celebrations

The Australia Day long weekend is set to explode in Hobsons Bay.

Families are invited to start with a free screening of Guardians of the Galaxy at dusk (about 8.45pm) at Williamstown’s Commonwealth Reserve on Friday.

The three-day Seaworks Maritime Festival in Williamstown runs from Saturday to Monday. It includes the largest display of American Civil War memorabilia seen in Melbourne and is part of 150th anniversary celebrations of the arrival of Confederate ship CSS Shenandoah.

Tickets are still available for the annual Australia Day Breakfast at Williamstown Town Hall, to be followed by a citizenship ceremony and announcement of Hobsons Bay’s citizen and young citizen of the year.

Australia Day in Altona starts at 11am and ends with a fireworks display on the foreshore at 9pm.

Altona Community Bank is sponsoring the fireworks, along with the annual family sand castle competition, with competition sessions from 11-Noon and 1-2pm.

Altona Village Traders’ Association spokeswoman, Sharon Walsh, said Monday’s celebrations, centred around Pier Street, Logan Reserve and the foreshore.

“There are great activities for the family, including senior and junior triathlons, Devonshire tea at historic Altona Homestead, Summer Sounds, market stalls, children’s workshops, Cobb & Co coach rides, camel rides on the beach. There’s something for everyone.’’

Visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or call 99321000.