Experience the best of the west
Welcome to The Weekend in Maribyrnong.
Just five kilometres west of the CBD, there’s plenty to see, do and explore in the City of Maribyrnong. Ride or stroll along the Maribyrnong River Trail to discover wetlands at Newells Paddock, the Heavenly Queen Temple and excellent views of the city.
Start your morning off in the most delicious way possible — an eating tour of Footscray Market! Immerse yourself in the market’s history, vibrant energy and indulge in some of the delicious foods on offer. But don’t stop there. Digest — or go for seconds — with a wander. If you need a caffeine pick-me-up, stop by Footscray favourite Rudimentary for a relaxing gardenside coffee or select an authentic Vietnamese brew and Banh Mi for lunch.
Take a short walk across the railway and join a tour of the newly renovated Footscray Town Hall. Join the architects and the Footscray Historical Society for commentary on the building’s rich history and its recent transformation into a six star Green Building, fostering civic and community connection for generations to come.
Head down to the West Gate Tunnel Project Information Centre in Yarraville for a sneak peek on the upcoming veloway. Hear from the engineers behind the project before hopping on a bus back up to Shepherd Bridge and taking a quick walk on the veloway before it opens up exclusively to cyclists later this year.
If you’re in the mood for movie night, don’t miss a screening of Maurice and I at The Sun Theatre. The documentary is a love letter to Christchurch and how architects Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney battled to save its iconic Town Hall after the 2011 earthquake.
On Sunday, theatre and history buffs can join a Footscray Heritage Theatres Tour and explore some of Australia’s first purpose-built cinemas. Take the chance to hear from former projectionists and see how Australia’s cinemas have evolved through time.
Go for a guided walk through Footscray Park, featuring Australia’s largest Edwardian park. With views of the city and Flemington Racecourse, this beloved park has some botanical species that are rarely found in Australia. Follow a representative from the Footscray Historical Society down the beautiful bluestone paths to find out more about this meticulously designed park.
Come celebrate 100 years of the Western Bulldogs in the VFL/AFL! Enjoy the celebrations at Mission Whitten Oval, which reopened last year after three years of renovations. Go behind the scenes and see where the Bulldogs train at the Victoria University High Performance Centre. Kids can explore the adventure playground or try out their footy skills and meet the Bulldogs mascots!
Tour Yarraville’s Sun Theatre, both an icon of its era and now. Built in 1938, the art deco theatre was one of the most luxurious in town but fell into disrepair. Now restored, today it’s a local favourite. After the tour, don’t miss the cosy Sun bookstore next door.
Once the weekend is over, you can check out the new Love Your West site to stay up-to-date with where to go and what to do in the area.
