The Only Place To Let Off Steam

THE SUNDAY AGE

Saturday August 6, 1994

AH, WILLIAMSTOWN, quaint seaside village of yesteryear.

There's many leisurely hours to be spent on a weekend in this little hamlet strolling down the jetty amid moored fishing boats, or sniffing the gourmet aromas wafting from Nelson Place and its many restaurants.

It's hard to believe that Williamstown is just another suburb of Melbourne and not a little village outcrop nestled on a small bay somewhere in Tasmania.

But Williamstown is definitely part of busy Melbourne.

The view of the city skyscrapers across the bay is a constant reminder of that.

Yet, somehow time and development seem to have almost overlooked this historical seaport.

Life is laid-back in Williamstown. Dogs sleep under park benches with smiles on their faces. Old ladies chat over their picket fences to passersby and the wide streets still have old fashioned shop fronts.

And that's why Williamstown is the ideal quick get-away destination if you've had enough of big-city hustle and bustle.

Despite the relative calm of the place, there's plenty to occupy a family for an entire afternoon in Williamstown.

Take the train from Flinders Street or a ferry ride from St Kilda pier.

Nelson Place has heaps of good, reasonably priced restaurants where you can sip Chardonnay to the sound the lapping waves of Hobsons Bay and views of the biggest shipbuilding yard in Australia.

You can take the kids to Scienceworks or the Railway Museum.

And, if you're lucky enough to take a trip to Williamstown on Sunday, 16 October or Sunday 20 November, you can do so on the historic steam train, Steam Willy.

The K Class train, built during World War II at the Newport train workshop, has been fully restored by Steamrail, a group a steam train enthusiasts.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Williamstown, the special steam-train service hopes to raise money for the Bone Marrow Research Centre and other charities.

On both days Steam Willy will run about five return trips pulling six beautifully restored carriages between Flinders Street and Williamstown Stations.

The train will stop at Spotswood Railway Station for a visit to Scienceworks Museum, then at North Williamstown Station to see railway history on display at the Victorian Railway Museum.

As it passes Williamstown Beach Station the train will slow so those on board can view murals painted by local high school students.

Historic Williamstown Station is the end of the line and gateway to historic Point Gellibrand, the Time Ball Tower, Transfield Shipbuilding yards and a leisurely stroll taking in the antique shops and cafes of Nelson Place and one of the state's biggest craft markets.

History buffs can tour the Historical Society's Museum, the oldest in Victoria.

Steam Willy has a special place in the heart of local Rotarian, Mr Dick Roach.

Mr Roach, 95, was manager of the Newport Workshop during the 1940s when the two K Class engines that will pull Steam Willy were built.

Back then the workshops had a staff of about 6000. Mr Roach's father was a station master and his great grandfather, William Liardet, was a founder of Port Melbourne.

Ticket prices for the special return trips are $25 a family, $10 adults and $5 for children under 12 and pensioners.

The Rotary Club of Williamstown is seeking sponsors for Steam Willy.

According to past president Mr Tony Boyd, the service costs about $10,000 a day to operate, including VicRail employees' wages. The major sponsor will get naming rights to one of the engines.

Interested organisations can contact Mr Boyd on (03) 397 6388.