Altona Coastal Park
Encyclopedia
Altona Coastal Park, a 70 hectares intertidal and salt marsh area located 11 km from Melbourne
CBD in the western suburb of Altona
, is an important recreational and nature conservation area, providing habitats for a large biodiversity of flora and fauna. It is part of the Cheetham and Altona Important Bird Area
.
The remnants of the Williamstown Racecourse Grandstand and a palm tree at the entry to the Grandstand still remains. A 4-metre sculpture called Requiem for a Champion, created by the artist Yvonne George, featuring a bronze stint
perched on top of a galloping horse, was installed to commemorate the location of the former Williamstown racecourse.
. It has at least 8 regionally-rare plant species, including the White Mangroves (Avicennia marina
) along the southern banks of Kororoit Creek
.
Large areas of Carpobrotus rossii
can be found at the park. It blooms in late October, resulting in swathes of pink flowers.
Ongoing rehabilitation programs, which include revegetation of indigenous flora and weed removal, serve to enhance the area's ability to sustain a wider diversity of fauna.
The aquatic birds include black swans, black ducks, pelicans, stilt, giant petrels, ibis, cranes, gulls, red-legged oyster catchers, grey teal, spoonbills, dotterels while the terrestrial birds include blue wrens, larks, rosellas, magpie larks, little tits, crimson robins, nankeen kestrels, wagtails and ravens.
In addition, one may find tiger snakes in the grasslands and rocky outcrops while native fish, crabs, oysters, cockles, periwinkles and larger warreners proliferate in the sea and creeks.
flows through the Park into Port Phillip Bay. Regionally-significant geomorphological areas can be found at the wetland terrain at the mouth of the Kororoit Creek
as well as at the extensive sand bars off Kororoit Creek.
The Park provides a protective buffer zone for the Wader Beach area of the Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve, which is located between Williamstown
and Altona.
passing through the park. The large, open spaces provide unrestricted views of Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne City across the salt marsh. At low tides when the seawater recedes, much of the coastal seabeds are exposed, allowing one to walk a considerable distance into the sea. The park is also used for research and study purposes.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
CBD in the western suburb of Altona
Altona, Victoria
Altona is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Altona had a population of 9685....
, is an important recreational and nature conservation area, providing habitats for a large biodiversity of flora and fauna. It is part of the Cheetham and Altona Important Bird Area
Cheetham and Altona Important Bird Area
The Cheetham and Altona Important Bird Area comprises several wetland sites on, or close to, the north-western coast of Port Phillip in Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Collectively they total 1223 ha in area and lie within, or adjacent to, the western suburbs of the city of Melbourne...
.
History
It was the site of the Williamstown Racecourse from 1864-1940, which was closed in 1940 to make way for an army camp during World War II. The site was extensively modified by land filling and site development; and known as the Altona Sports Park before its current name was adopted.The remnants of the Williamstown Racecourse Grandstand and a palm tree at the entry to the Grandstand still remains. A 4-metre sculpture called Requiem for a Champion, created by the artist Yvonne George, featuring a bronze stint
Stint
A stint is one of several very small waders in the paraphyletic "Calidris" assemblage - often separated in Erolia -, which in North America are known as peeps...
perched on top of a galloping horse, was installed to commemorate the location of the former Williamstown racecourse.
Flora
The Park has predominantly saltmarsh vegetation including Shrubby Glasswort and Beaded Glasswort, which provide food for the rare Orange-bellied ParrotOrange-bellied Parrot
The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to southern Australia, and one of only two species of parrot which migrate. The adult male is distinguished by its bright grass-green upperparts, yellow underparts and orange belly patch. The adult female and juvenile are duller...
. It has at least 8 regionally-rare plant species, including the White Mangroves (Avicennia marina
Avicennia marina
Avicennia marina, commonly known as grey mangrove or white mangrove, is a species of mangrove tree classified in the plant family Acanthaceae...
) along the southern banks of Kororoit Creek
Kororoit Creek
Kororoit Creek is a major waterway of over 80 km in length in the north-west and western parts of Melbourne. Its headwaters are north of Sunbury at 400m above sea level in ordovician geology...
.
Large areas of Carpobrotus rossii
Carpobrotus rossii
Carpobrotus rossii, commonly known as Karkalla or Pig Face , is a succulent coastal groundcover plant native to southern Australia....
can be found at the park. It blooms in late October, resulting in swathes of pink flowers.
Ongoing rehabilitation programs, which include revegetation of indigenous flora and weed removal, serve to enhance the area's ability to sustain a wider diversity of fauna.
Fauna
At least 149 bird species are recorded here, of which 13 are rare or endangered.The aquatic birds include black swans, black ducks, pelicans, stilt, giant petrels, ibis, cranes, gulls, red-legged oyster catchers, grey teal, spoonbills, dotterels while the terrestrial birds include blue wrens, larks, rosellas, magpie larks, little tits, crimson robins, nankeen kestrels, wagtails and ravens.
In addition, one may find tiger snakes in the grasslands and rocky outcrops while native fish, crabs, oysters, cockles, periwinkles and larger warreners proliferate in the sea and creeks.
Geology
The landform changes from grassy plains in the inner areas to salt marsh, shallow intertidal flats and rocky basalt platforms off the coast of Port Phillip Bay. Kororoit CreekKororoit Creek
Kororoit Creek is a major waterway of over 80 km in length in the north-west and western parts of Melbourne. Its headwaters are north of Sunbury at 400m above sea level in ordovician geology...
flows through the Park into Port Phillip Bay. Regionally-significant geomorphological areas can be found at the wetland terrain at the mouth of the Kororoit Creek
Kororoit Creek
Kororoit Creek is a major waterway of over 80 km in length in the north-west and western parts of Melbourne. Its headwaters are north of Sunbury at 400m above sea level in ordovician geology...
as well as at the extensive sand bars off Kororoit Creek.
The Park provides a protective buffer zone for the Wader Beach area of the Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve, which is located between Williamstown
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
and Altona.
Recreational and community use
The park is popular with walkers, cyclists and dog-walkers, with the Hobsons Bay Coastal TrailHobsons Bay Coastal Trail
The Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the coast line of Hobsons Bay in the inner western suburbs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The trail forms part of the western half of the Bayside Trail which encircles Port Phillip...
passing through the park. The large, open spaces provide unrestricted views of Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne City across the salt marsh. At low tides when the seawater recedes, much of the coastal seabeds are exposed, allowing one to walk a considerable distance into the sea. The park is also used for research and study purposes.