Esplanade Foreshore Heritage Precinct

The Esplanade Foreshore Heritage Precinct is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.

Historically and socially, the Esplanade foreshore is significant as an illustration of the importance of Williamstown as a place of recreation for over 140 years. It was the earliest public bathing beach developed in the western suburbs of Melbourne and the surviving pre-World War 2 buildings and landscaping illustrate the importance and of the 'Back Beach' whose popularity between the late 1890s and the 1930s rivalled St Kilda on the opposite side of the Bay. (AHC criteria A4, D2 and G1)

Aesthetically, the Esplanade foreshore is significant for surviving buildings and landscape elements that still evoke the Edwardian and Interwar origins of this area and contribute to its historic character.

On this basis, the following buildings and elements contribute to the significance of the precinct:

The former Williamstown Dressing Pavilion, former Band Rotunda, shelter shed, Williamstown Life Saving and Swimming club and pool and the remnant Edwardian and Interwar landscaping including Cypresses, lava rock beds planted with Mirror Bush and bluestone rubble wall.

Please note that some heritage places within this precinct may also have an individual citation in this Study.

Group

Landscape - Cultural

Category

Other - Landscape - Cultural