Altona, Victoria

Altona Melbourne, Victoria
Main street of Altona
Altona
Coordinates	37°52′05″S 144°49′48″E / 37.868°S 144.830°E / -37.868; 144.830Coordinates: 37°52′05″S 144°49′48″E / 37.868°S 144.830°E / -37.868; 144.830
Population	9,918 (2011 census)
• Density	586.9/km2 (1,520/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3018
Area	16.9 km2 (6.5 sq mi)
Location	13 km (8 mi) from Melbourne
LGA(s)	City of Hobsons Bay
State electorate(s)	Altona
Federal Division(s)	Gellibrand
Suburbs around Altona: Laverton North Altona North Newport Altona Meadows Altona Seaholme and Williamstown Altona Meadows Port Phillip Port Phillip

Altona is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-west of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2011 census, Altona had a population of 9,918.

Altona is a large suburb consisting of low density residential in the south-eastern half, with mixed industry in the north-western half. A key feature is Altona Beach on Port Phillip, which is one of only two swimming beaches in the western suburbs (the other being Williamstown Beach).

Altona takes its name from the then independent German city of Altona which is today a borough of Hamburg.

Prior to arrival of Europeans, the Altona area was home to Kurung-Jang-Balluk Aboriginal people, of the Woiwurrung clan.

Altona was first permanently settled in 1842, with the construction of The Homestead by Alfred Langhorne. The name 'Altona' first appeared on maps in 1861. It was named by a German man named Taegtow, who hailed from Altona in Hamburg. Taegtow believed that coal was to be found in the area, and in 1881 he formed the Williamstown (Taegtow) Prospecting Company. From 1886 housing in the Altona and Merton Street estates was sold, and by 1901 the Victorian Government owned an explosives reserve in the west of Altona.

On 20 February 1911 J J Hammond flew the first cross country flight between towns in Australia from Altona Bay to Geelong in Victoria, and on 23 February, also at Altona Bay in Victoria, he undertook the first powered passenger flight in Australia.

Coal mining formed the basis of the local economy from 1908 to 1919; however, this was brought to an end in 1930 when open cut mining was developed in the Latrobe Valley.