A misleading symbol

As the ferry left Williamstown, I noticed a ship  with what I was sure were guns at both ends of the vessel. It was the Sea Shepherd. The name was vaguely familiar, but with an ominous skull and bones symbol on the side, I found the  ship intimidating.

Beyond the beach

Leaving Williamstown Beach, I headed back to the pier passing through the Botanic Gardens opened in the 1860s. Most of the trees were unnamed, but walking between the avenue of palms and by giant Moreton Bay fig trees created a peaceful end to my hour long hike.

What is a lava blister?

To be honest, I’d never heard of a lava blister until I traipsed around Williamstown’s point and came across this unusual rock formation.

A hike by the bay

Beginning at Williamstown’s Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park, a trail ran parallel to Port Phillip Bay. I passed Shelley Beach where a multitude of sea birds gathered on the rocks extending into the sea. Others squawked overhead.

A rare tower

Situated in Point Gellibrand Coastal Park on the outskirts of Williamstown was the timeball tower where Europeans first settled in Victoria. In 1849 when the tower was originally constructed, it was a lighthouse made from bluestone, quarried and built by convict prisoners. Some ten years later, the lighthouse became a timeball tower which allowed ships to adjust their chronometers.

Melbourne’s first sea port

Since tankers couldn’t navigate the Yarra River, this maritime village was intended to be Victoria’s port and capital. Due to a shortage of fresh water, Melbourne became the state capital while Williamstown remained an important port and ship building site.

Sailing across the bay

On the first sunny fourteen degree day in a week, I raced to St Kilda pier to catch a ferry across the northern end of Port Phillip Bay. After the ferry docked at Port Melbourne pier, we sailed over calm waters towards Williamstown.