By Russell Brown – Williamstown Historical Society
Nelson Place in Williamstown is more than a scenic waterfront promenade; it is one of Victoria’s oldest streets and a powerful reminder of the state’s early maritime history. Its story is inseparable from the development of Williamstown itself, a town established in the mid-1830s as the first official seaport for the Port Phillip District and the primary gateway to the new colony.
Long before European settlement, the area around Williamstown was known to the local Indigenous people as Koort-Boork-Boork. Rich in natural resources, the foreshore and surrounding wetlands were well used for food gathering and travel along Hobsons Bay. This deep-water anchorage later attracted colonial surveyors, and in 1837 Governor Sir Richard Bourke ordered the establishment of a government town at William’s Town, named in honour of King William IV. Although Melbourne soon became the administrative centre, Williamstown remained the main port for shipping, trade, and immigration.
One of the earliest streets laid out in the new settlement was Nelson Parade, later renamed Nelson Place after the British naval hero Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson. From its beginnings, the street formed the commercial and social backbone of Williamstown. Stores, warehouses, customs facilities, and services for sailors and merchants lined the street. In 1838, a stone jetty built by convict labour provided one of the first reliable landing points, reinforcing Nelson Place’s importance as a hub of maritime activity.
The Victorian gold rush of the 1850s brought dramatic change. Thousands of immigrants arrived by sea, and for many, Nelson Place was the very first street they encountered in Australia. Hotels, shops, banks, and government offices flourished as the population surged. The Williamstown Immigration Office and Depot, located near the corner of Thompson Street and Nelson Place, processed new arrivals, while hotels offered accommodation, meals, and social gathering spaces for travellers and locals alike.
As prosperity increased, more substantial and architecturally impressive buildings appeared. Financial institutions such as the Bank of Australasia (1877) and the English, Scottish and Australian Bank (1873), demonstrated the area’s commercial confidence. The Williamstown Customs House, completed in 1873, played a vital role in regulating trade and symbolised Nelson Place’s continuing function as Victoria’s maritime gateway. Residences and shop-houses such as Craigantina, built in 1886, reflected a settled and growing community.
Over time, Williamstown’s role as the main port declined as Melbourne’s docks expanded closer to the city. Nelson Place gradually evolved from a working port street into a heritage precinct. Unlike many commercial areas, its Victorian façades remained largely intact. Today, historic buildings are home to cafés, restaurants, and shops, while the waterfront offers panoramic views across Hobsons Bay to the Melbourne skyline.
Nelson Place remains a living link to Williamstown’s past—telling the story of migration, commerce, and community that helped shape Victoria. Despite modern challenges such as post-Covid vacancy rates, the street continues to celebrate its heritage. The Williamstown Historical Society plays a vital role in preserving this legacy, maintaining extensive collections of photographs, documents, and artefacts that ensure the stories of Nelson Place endure for future generations.
