The Real Estate Guide

Footscray, with a Census population in 2006 of 11,400 residing within a 5km2 areas 5KM to the West from Melbourne’s CBD, has been a popular Mecca for many of new settlers to Victoria. Surrounding suburbs include Maribyrnong, Flemington, Maidstone, Kingsville, Yarraville, Seddon and West Melbourne. The area is well serviced by public transport with regular trains and trams to the city. Trams also run to Highpoint Shopping Centre at Maribyrnong.

Footscray is a melting-pot of nationalities. For a long-time, it was a favourite home for Italian and Macedonian migrants but in recent years, has seen growing numbers of new settlers from Vietnam and Somalia. Each year, Footscray holds a Tet Lunar Year Festival covering live music, food stalls, fireworks and the mandatory dancing dragon.

The migrant influences are visible around the Footscray’s markets and shops. The Footscray Market next to Footscray station and Little Saigon are vibrant, colourful centres to purchase food and condiments of all kinds. This concentration of fresh food has also encouraged the establishment of many restaurants in the area.

For most of its history, Footscray has been a dormitory suburb for workers in surrounding manufacturing industries. Most factories have since closed. The affordability of housing in Footscray and its proximity to transport and facilities is also attracting first home buyers into the market. The median price of houses is $447,000 which is above the average for the area, and $275,000 for units. Another attraction of the suburb is Footscray Park which is the State’s second largest botanical park.

Footscray is well served by schools with four State primary and two private primary schools in the vicinity, two secondary colleges and two campuses of Victoria University. The Western General Hospital, a long-established teaching and research hospital, attends to acute medical and surgical procedures. It serves as a magnet to medical specialists and general practitioners who are based in Footscray.

Footscray is the home of the Western Bulldogs AFL football club. Whitten Oval, which is currently being redeveloped for wider community use, remains the Club’s training centre although Etihad Stadium at Docklands is now their home ground for matches. The Flemington Racecourse is nearby – easy walk to the Melbourne Cup!