Melbourne's West

Old. New. Urban. Rural. Established. Contemporary. Raw. Edgy. Call it a region of contrasts or a journey of juxtapositions. Or call it the West. Whichever way you look at, it’s a fast-emerging cultural hotspot and it’s an area full of fresh energy.

Stretching from Footscray to Werribee and from Flemington to Melton and home to 130 different cultural groups, Melbourne’s west is filled with galleries, performance venues, public art trails and cultural walks, along with an ever-growing number of spaces for emerging artists and creative start-ups. Must-visit venues include the Footscray Community Arts Centre, Incinerator Gallery and The Substation.

The regions fascinating indigenous stories, pastoral settlement and maritime and industrial heritage is also waiting to be discovered - with walking tours, homesteads, historical sights, museums, intriguing architecture and heritage buildings on offer. Top picks include Willows Historical Park, Overnewton Castle and Werribee Mansion

The region expresses itself with an expansive array of cultural festivals and events throughout the year, highlights include the annual Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrations across the region; Hobson Bay’s Art and Industry Festival; Williamstown Literary Festival; Newport Folk Festival; and So Frenchy So Chic and Lost Lands – both at Werribee Park.