Footscray Station to Essendon nursery river walk

Footscray Station to Essendon nursery river walk created by Dottie

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Summary

Walk along the Maribyrnong River from Footscray to Essendon. This walk in 9km one-way. Highlights include Footscray Park, Thompson Reserve and lovely river views the whole way!

Description

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This river walk is 9km one-way. If you do not wish to return to Footscray after arriving at the nursery in Essendon, you could catch a route #57 or #82 tram (Raleigh Rd) , or Moonee Ponds train station (Craigieburn line) is a 2km walk form the nursery along Holmes Rd.

Walk start:
Take a Williamstown/Werribee/Sunbury train to Footscray railway station.

Cross the ramp to the Hyde St side. Walk west along Bunbury St, past Cowper and Whitehall Streets.

At Moreland Street walk down the left side of Bunbury St, at the railway bridge, to the Maribyrnong River.

A little way along to the left is Footscray Community Arts Centre - a magnificent bluestone building where there's always lots happening.

Further along the Maribyrnong River is the Heavenly Queen Temple , a Buddhist temple complex and statue of the Heavenly Queen next to the railway bridge. There is also a great view to the City of Melbourne here.

Newells Paddock comes into view just as you see the former cattle bridge across the river. Just around the corner is Flemington Racecourse on the opposite bank.

Footscray Park is a little oasis of greenery. On Melbourne Cup Day the gardens are full of people trying to get a glimpse of the race across the river.

The path passes Edgewater Lake on the left and crosses Burndap Park Island in between the Maribyrnong River and Edgewater Housing Estate.

Pipemakers Park is next with its unusual dolphin statue and the Living Museum of the West highlighting the history of an early boiling-down works, railway engineering foundry and one of Australia’s earliest meat canneries.

Slip under Raleigh Rd and past the Anglers Tavern, an icon on the river for decades. It constantly gets flooded when the Maribyrnong River breaks its banks. On the opposite bank is the Band Rotunda erected by the Essendon River League in 1922 and The Boathouse Restaurant.

This is a prominent spot for regattas among the many rowing clubs in this area. The stone steps are a popular viewing platform.

Continue on to the Afton St bridge and cross to the opposite bank.

There are playgrounds dotted along the river. This one has a magnificent pirate ship as its focus.

Stop for lunch at Poyntons Boulevard Café then retrace your steps back to Footscray, or continue on the east side and cross back to the west side at the bridge at Raleigh Rd or the footbridge at Pipemakers Park.

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Points of Interest

1. Footscray Community Arts Centre

A little way along to the left is Footscray Community Arts Centre known for exhibitions, classes, venue hire and the magnificent bluestone building it is housed in.

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2. Bunbury St railway bridge

Bunbury St railway bridge- note the face underneath

3. Heavenly Queen Temple

Further along the Maribyrnong River is the Heavenly Queen Temple , a Buddhist temple complex and statue of the Heavenly Queen next to the railway bridge.

Find out more