It might be a small section of riverbank in the City of Maribyrnong, but the Footscray Wharves have a grand history.
And a $10,000 online project will ensure the rich and remarkable history will be forever remembered.
Project co-ordinator Peter Haffenden has described the Melbourne Living Museum of the West project as “significant” for the entire Maribrynong community.
“The project reveals a substantial heritage in the growth of Footscray,” Mr Haffenden said.
“For the local community, it will be a source of pride in their area and also a very informative document.”
The project involved creating a website to capture the history of the wharves.
Mr Haffenden said research during the project unveiled some fascinating facts about the wharves and the surrounding area.
“For example, they [residents] will probably not know that the same family that gave The Ashes to the world in 1882 – the Clarke family of Rupertswood – also presented a silver cup to the boat racing world which was won by the Footscray Rowing Club to keep, also in 1882,” he said.
He said the project would also help break stereotypes about the suburb and its surrounds.
“The traditional perception of Footscray over the last hundred years has been one of dark and gloomy satanic mills; it was called ‘Smellbourne’ in the 19th century.
“But it’s a suburb that had the only train line in a suburban street and the only underground train tunnel in the Melbourne urban area.”
Mr Haffenden said the project had scope for interest beyond the municipality. “We expect it will capture the imagination of people who live outside the area, and in some strange way, it will facilitate the growing sense of Footscray and the city of Maribyrnong as being part of an inner city Melbourne.”
The project was funded by Victoria Public Records Office.
Visit livingmuseum.org.au/projects/stories_places/warves/FW_home.html
