[1] Indigenous Australians occupied the area long before maritime activities shaped the modern historical development of Williamstown.

"[3] In November 1835, Captain Robson Coltish, master of the barque Norval sailed from Launceston, then crossing Bass Strait with a cargo of 500 sheep and 50 Hereford cattle which had been consigned by Dr. Alexander Thomson.

[4] Williamstown was initially considered along with the sites that became known as Geelong and Melbourne for the capital of the new colony at Port Phillip.

Although Williamstown offered excellent proximity to anchorage, Melbourne was ultimately chosen due to its abundance of fresh water.

[5][6] Wiliamstown remained an important port of the new colony, and the first streets of old William's Town were laid out in 1837 with that in mind.

It only operated as a lighthouse until 1860, when a Pile Light was built and anchored off Shelly Beach,[10] after which it served as a time ball tower.

The new lightship consisted of two white lights of equal height, 24 feet (7.3 m) apart, and was shown from a temporary anchor in 4.5 fathoms of water.

Built in 1872, the Williamstown Racecourse, with its large and elaborately decorated grandstand facing out to the sea, was considered one of the finest in Australia.

[21] The Confederate States Navy warship CSS Shenandoah, which had successfully attacked several Union ships in the Indian Ocean, sailed into Hobsons Bay on the afternoon of 25 January 1865.

[citation needed] An 1871 hearing at the International Court in Geneva awarded damages of £820,000 against Britain to the US government for use of the port at Williamstown by the CSS Shenandoah.

[24] The Alfred Graving Dock is historically significant as the first graving dock in Victoria and the third in Australia at that time, for its role in the development of the shipping industry in Port Phillip, for its continuous use as a Dockyard since its completion and for association with William Wardell during his term as Inspector General of the Public Works Department.

[28] The Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, situated on Nelson Place at the end of Ferguson Street and adjacent to the pier.

In 1906, one of the largest undertakings attempted by ship repairers in Australia was successfully accomplished at the Williamstown Dockyard.

Construction of the Williamstown Town Hall on Ferguson Street commenced a year earlier in 1918, but it was not officially opened until 1927.

The Williamstown and Newport Anglers Club was formed in 1933[33] and rented premises at 221 Nelson Place, moving next door to 223 in March 1935.

It was electric, gave a green and red light, had a visibility of 15 nautical miles (28 km) and operated as a lighthouse from 1934 to 1987.

It was proclaimed in 1949 and was first won in that year by the Australian Labor Party candidate, John Michael Mullens.

[citation needed] The Pile Light anchored off Shelly Beach in 1860 was destroyed in 1976 when it was hit by the Melbourne Trader, a vessel of 7,000 tonnes.

[18] The Urban Land Authority developed 60 hectares of the estate for housing and related commercial and community activities.

The historic armoury building of the old rifle range was preserved, refurbished and is now as a funeral home set in a large formal garden.

[citation needed] The remaining 50 hectares was reserved for the protection of the surrounding environmentally sensitive area.

BAE Systems Australia's Marine division (formerly Tenix) has operated out of Williamstown dockyards for nearly 20 years, during which time it built Anzac-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, and completed the Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock ships.

[42] The Nelson Place tourism precinct offers, many catering for al fresco dining and some with views of Melbourne's city skyline through the masts of bobbing boats on the foreshore.

Around the corner from Nelson Place there is a local retail sector operating on Ferguson Street and Douglas Parade.

A maritime museum is located on board the World War II minesweeping corvette HMAS Castlemaine, which is tied up at Gem Pier adjacent to Commonwealth Reserve.

The CYs were formed in 1886[citation needed] and currently field three teams in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).

Notable AFL players from Williamstown Juniors are Daniel Giansiracusa of the Western Bulldogs, and Ben Davies of the Collingwood Magpies and North Melbourne Kangaroos.

Established in 1981, Williamstown SC's home ground is JT Gray Reserve on Kororoit Creek Road.

Williamstown is approximately 15 minutes by car from Melbourne via the West Gate Freeway or a 30-minute train journey from Flinders Street station.

[56] A ferry service connects Williamstown's Gem Pier area with St Kilda and Port Melbourne.