Tourist Information and Tours
The Williamstown Hobson Bay Visitor Information Centre is located on Commonwealth Reserve at the corner of Nelson Place and Syme St. It is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 9932-4313. You can obtain brochures here outlining self-guided walks which take in the town's historical buildings, features and sites.

Guided walking and coach tours of Williamstown are also conducted for a fee by Williamstown Tours (tel: 03 9391 2970) and Hobsons Bay Historic Tours, tel: (03) 9397 6023. Both also offer specially designed educational tours for school groups.

Gem Pier and the Ferries
At the end of Syme St is Gem Pier which was named after a paddlesteamer that once operated between Williamstown and Port Melbourne. A 30-metre stone jetty was built here by convict labour in 1838 although the original has been replaced.

Ferries now operate daily between Gem Pier and Southgate and, on weekends, between Gem Pier and St Kilda.

Williamstown Maritime Museum
Permanently stationed at Gem Pier is the HMAS Castlemaine (1942) - a World War II minesweeper which was built at the local shipyards. It is now used as a maritime museum. Aside from the ship itself there is a collection of nautical memorabilia and exhibits within its confines. It is open from midday to 5.00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays or by appointment for groups, tel: (03) 9397 2363 on weekends or (03) 9853 0823 before 10.00 a.m. on weekdays.

The Enterprize
Chartered trips are available on weekends, on board the 'Enterprize' - a timber replica of the 55-ton sailing schooner which carried the first European settlers up the Yarra to Melbourne. It picks up passengers from Gem Pier although the ship is docked at the end of Anne St. Visitors who merely wish to see the ship must go to the end of Anne St where the exterior can be observed. Tours of the interior are available for groups who undertake bookings. For either inspections or charters ring (03) 9397 3477.

Melbourne Seaplanes

A unique way to see Melbourne's city skyline and surrounds.  Ideal for those seeking the excitement of viewing Melbourne from the air, for those looking for something special, or for busy people with only limited time for sightseeing. tel: 0418 688 388

Nelson Place and Galleries
The streetscape of Nelson Place is very attractive and it has been restored in recent years. There are numerous cafes and restaurants are a number of interesting features. On the other side of the road to the information centre (126 Nelson Place) is the Customs Wharf Gallery, located in the former Customs House - a Classical Revival structure dating from 1873. Open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily it features up-market arts, crafts, antiques and collectibles with an art gallery on the upper floor, tel: (03) 9399 9726. At 149 Nelson Place is The Haven Gallery which sells souvenirs and also features a gallery on the top floor, tel: (03) 9397 2045.

Time Ball Tower
The Time Ball Tower is also located at the bottom of Nelson Place, opposite the beach, on the foreshore at Point Gellibrand. The lower section of the building was constructed by convict labour out of bluestone either in 1846 or 1852, depending on which source is credited. It replaced a wooden tower erected in 1842. The purpose of the time ball was to tell ships what the time was. At exactly 1.00pm each day the Time Ball was manually lowered to allow ships to set their chronometers accurately. A cylindrical brick upper extension was added in the 1930s. The Time Ball was restored in the 1990s and it now operates according to a computerised system.

Fort Gellibrand
The gun emplacements, earthworks, parapets, drains, magazines and infantry revetments of Fort Gellibrand have also been restored to original condition in the 1990s. The fort developed between 1860 and 1890. It is only open to the general public occasionally as it is still used by a commando unit. However, it is expected that it will open on a more regular basis in the future.

The first cemetery in what is now Victoria was established in this area in the late 1830s. When the fort was built the bodies were removed to a vault.

Science Works and Planetarium
The Science Works is a hands-on highly interactive science museum for all ages which features different programs throughout the year. The emphasis is on fun. It is located in Booker St and is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily, tel: (03) 9392 4800. A new digital planetarium is located on the grounds and is part of the complex. It is open in the evenings.

Historical Museum
The Historical Museum is located in the former mechanics' institute (c.1860) at 5 Electra St by the intersection where it meets both Parker St and Melbourne Rd. It is open from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sundays and by appointment during the week. They have a large collection of maritime material, photographs, records and other items pertaining to the settlement's venerable and quite crucial history. There are several walking tours of the town's historic features outlined in brochures at the museum and plenty of published material, including a free potted history of Williamstown. There is also an historical kit for school groups, tel: (03) 9397 5423 or (03) 9397 5933.

Botanic Gardens
Williamstown Botanic Gardens are located at the corner of Osborne and Giffard Sts.

Some Other Historic Buildings
Stevedore Uniting Church (in Stevedore St) was built of bluestone c.1870 as a Gothic Revival for the Congregationalists. An asymmetrical design it features a fine tower capped by an octagonal lantern and spire. The entrance, west windows and detailing are all of distinction.

'Mandalay' is a substantial two-storey residence at 24 The Strand which was built of stuccoed bluestone in 1858 for Captain William Probert. A symmetrical design it features a single-storey verandah with a gabled porch at the centre of the facade. It is considered typical of the houses which fronted Hobsons Bay in the 19th century. The two-storey weatherboard house at 63 The Strand was built c.1859. It features a timber verandah and single-storey gabled wing at one end.

The two-storey stone house at 1 Yarra St was built in the early 1850s for merchant William Langhorne. It was stuccoed in 1861. An original two-storey verandah has been removed and the upper doors converted to windows. The timber wing was added in the 20th century.

At 3 Cox's Gardens is a single-storey mid-1850s cottage built partially of prefabricated timber for Samuel George Cox. It is a rare surviving example of an 1850s worker's cottage.

The Australian Railways Historical Society's Railway Museum
The Railway Museum is located 200 metres from the North Williamstown railway station in Champion Rd. There are some 20 railway engines with many carriages and wagons. It is open from midday to 5.00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays and from midday to 4.00 p.m. on Wednesdays during school holidays. For enquiries ring (03) 9397 7412 or (03) 9772 1287 after hours. Mid-week school and group visits are by arrangement: tel: (03) 9596 3249.

Wetland Areas
The Jawbone Wetland area is about 8 minutes from Williamstown off Kororoit Creek Rd which departs westwards from Williamstown as Ferguson St. It features a boardwalk, birdhides and a lake system.

Another wetland area is located under the West Gate Bridge to the north of North Williamstown, en route to the Melbourne CBD. Boardwalks lead to areas where you can view the ships of Port Melbourne. A mangrove swamp is adjacent.

Altona Miniature Railway
Families with children may be interested in taking a ride on some miniature steam trains on the third Sunday of the month from midday to 4.00 p.m. in Blenheim St, Altona North (just to the west of Williamstown). There are picnic and barbecue facilities and a kiosk, tel: (03) 9741 6580.