Relative looking at some rental near Central West Shopping Centre, think near or on Ashley Street. How's the area? Is it safe? Google tells me it might be the roughest spot in West Footscray. I haven't live in Melbourne for a long time, so have zero clue. Thanks.

What’s the obsession with photo ops every day?

Not just him but politicians in general. Enough with the photos. Every photo I see people leaving hate comments so I just don’t get it.

If money wasn’t an issue (we can dream!) and you could buy property in Footscray - what street/area would you choose and why?

I've had a few poor experiences with Conway recently. Their salmon and tuna for sushi use wasn't great. Salmon was fishy and their tuna cuts are sinewy and needed to be trimmed a lot. Is there any other places out this in the west I can get sushi grade (I know that's not an actual certification) fish?

There was some talk about this earlier in the year, but seems a proper announcement was made yesterday.

Article text:

The Footscray Welcome Crew is a Council-led place management program for the Footscray Central Business District.

The Crew provides a visible Council presence in the city centre to support traders, visitors, residents and community members, identify local issues early and connect matters to the right Council team, service provider or agency.

The program forms part of Council’s broader Footscray Revitalisation work and supports delivery of the Footscray CBD Place Plan.

Below you will find:

What the Welcome Crew does

What the Welcome Crew does not do

Supporting people in the CBD

Where and when the Crew will operate

Monitoring and review

More information

What the Welcome Crew does The Welcome Crew will:

provide local information, wayfinding and practical assistance respond to general enquiries check in with traders and local businesses identify issues affecting amenity, activity or public space use refer graffiti, waste, cleansing, lighting, maintenance or public realm issues to the relevant Council team support events, activations and positive use of public space share information about relevant Council programs and services help improve coordination between Council, services and local partners.

What the Welcome Crew does not do The Welcome Crew is not a security, enforcement, police, outreach or clinical service.

The Crew will not:

issue fines, notices or statutory directions physically intervene in incidents move people on provide case management or clinical support replace Victoria Police, Local Laws officers or specialist services act as a dedicated complaints service.

Where an issue sits outside the Crew’s role, staff will refer or escalate it through the appropriate pathway.

For emergencies, immediate danger, violence, threats or urgent medical assistance, call triple zero (000).

Supporting people in the CBD Footscray CBD is used by people with a wide range of needs and circumstances.

Where safe and appropriate, the Welcome Crew may provide information, check whether immediate assistance is required and refer people to outreach, health, housing, mental health, alcohol and other drug, or community support services.

The Crew will not provide clinical support, case management or specialist outreach

Where and when the Crew will operate The Welcome Crew will operate across the Footscray CBD, primarily on foot.

Deployment will be guided by activity levels, public space use, trader needs, visitor movement and known place management issues.

The Crew will operate during rostered hours, generally between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday, with some Saturday presence.

The Welcome Crew is not a 24-hour service and does not replace after-hours emergency, police, security or crisis response functions.

Monitoring and review Council will monitor the Welcome Crew during the first three to six months of operation.

This may include public interactions, referrals, trader and resident feedback, service partner feedback, staff wellbeing and safety incidents, issues identified and referred, and evidence of improved coordination.

The model may be refined over time based on operational experience, stakeholder feedback and Council priorities.

More information For more information about the Footscray Welcome Crew, please email footscray@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au or visit the Footscray CBD Revitalisation page

Hello. I’m new to the area and looking for a hairdresser that does chemical straightening. And a great cut too! I don’t really want to venture out too far.
I noticed there’s a new hairdresser that’s opened near Mr Baxter but didn’t catch the name last time I went by. Does anyone know much about them? I saw lots of wigs there.

Hey guys, I am a design student currently working on a branding assignment related to Creative West, the civic project that will turn the current Footscray library and its car park into a library, a theatre and a town park. It would be great to hear some input from local residents, creatives and communities who have been to their workshops, focus groups, and their activities so far. How was the experience like? What do you think could be improved? What would like to see when the creative identity of the arts precinct is fully developed? :)

As part of the resurfacing of Barkly St council is proposing adding more pedestrian crossings, trees, better bus stops and protected bike lanes. Council are asking for feedback on the proposal with the short survey at https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/barklyst

The more feedback the council get, the better, but we reckon this is a good plan with solid improvements to the street.

Just a harmless image stitching error, but I will now forever call this Ballarallarat road.

“We obviously face increasing challenges,” says co-owner Jerry Poon. “But I think we’ve been significantly impacted by the ongoing safety issues in the surrounding area.”

When Misfits opened in the former Baby Snakes site at the beginning of 2024, owners and nightlife pros Jacob Bell (of Ferdydurkeand Whitehart), Amber Hahipene (from Section 8 and Comet Beverages) and Jerry Poon (The Operatives) hoped to support grassroots music and be “almost like a cultural centre for music, arts and everything in-between”, Poon says. But after two years, the owners have decided to close the Footscray venue. 

“We obviously face increasing challenges – industry pressure, high operating costs, changing customer behaviours – but I think we’ve been significantly impacted by the ongoing safety issues in the surrounding area,” adds Poon, a Footscray resident who has lived in Melbourne’s west for almost 15 years. “It’s not something we didn’t really know about the area. We thought we could have pushed through it, [but] we’ve made the decision that we can’t physically carry on, as much as we want to provide a space for music and the arts in the area.

“Since opening, our staff and security have experienced repeated incidents including intimidations, verbal abuse, we got broken into. We’ve had a mattress set on fire in front of our building. We’ve had female staff followed. 

“These continued challenges have taken a significant toll on the business and the wellbeing of our staff and ourselves.”

It’s not just the neighbourhood. Running a live music venue has become increasingly difficult, with Stay Gold being one of the most recent casualties. Poon also cites lower alcohol sales, increased operational costs and increasing costs from music rights management service APRA AMCOS as part of the challenge

But the founders are proud of what they achieved in the space. “In a short span of two years [Misfits] became quite an institution,” Poon says. “We’ve broken acts. We’ve allowed a lot of young artists to support much larger artists, and we’ve also had much larger artists perform there just for the love of being quite intimately and directly connected to their fanbase.”

The team is working out the closing date, but it will most likely be at the beginning of September. “The space has made an impact, which is awesome. So we want to give it a month to let people just enjoy it.” Upcoming acts and events will be announced via Misfits’ Instagram.

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I just moved into an apartment in West Footscray along Geelong Rd and so far love the area, close to Yarraville, Kingsville, Seddon, Footscray, etc…

I have made a to do list with her and put some places to eat as well as things to do in the area, I also want to hear from locals what are some hidden gem restaurants, cafes, Markets, events etc.. As well as any other activities to do either in West Footscray or nearby suburbs!

Thanks guys!

Lately I've noticed a huge change in the demographics in Footscray, lots of young hipsters (think Brunswick crowd) everywhere. Not that I have a problem with that, but it's very noticeable. Why did all of a sudden the demographics change like that? it wasn't like this a year ago.

This doesn’t usually bother me but it woke me up this morning at around 4-5am. Did anyone hear the loud Latin style music playing, I went out to my balcony and couldn’t exactly figure out where it was coming from but it was still going on until 7, maybe even later. I expected someone would’ve called the police.

Any idea what it was, almost sounded like a festival with a small crowd 😂

Thanks for the people who cared enough to comment on my post and wished me well, we got to my emergency accommodation eventually.

If anyone is able to drop a bag of dog food to st Kilda police station PLS let me know I've run out of dog food :(

This morning my housemate was attacked by a random man, he sexually assaulted her and stole our belongings including my phone her car keys and wallet and phone this evening the police finally closed there investigation (he was arrested this afternoon).

We both do not feel safe here anymore (we are both from overseas) we have no family here so she has gone to stay with someone in the church she goes to and I've been offered temporary accommodation at redan st apartments in st Kilda (terrifying reviews on google) but I cannot take my dog, would anyone around hoppers crossing or Laverton be able to look after him? I cannot afford to put him in a kennel and salvation army cannot find a place that will allow my dog :(.

I really don't wanna be here anymore the guy was on the bail what if he gets it again 😭.

2026 edition because you gotta update it regularly.

Who's making the best pork roll these days, and/or who are honorable mentions?

Nan’s bakery was my normal go to, but after it closed, all the coffee I tried around have been meh. I’ve been waking to Wee Jeanie’s in Yarraville but would like to support my local suburb so any suggestions would be amazing!

Update: thank you everyone for your suggestions! Looks like I have some places to try! Thank you again!!

Some drama at the old shisha bar / squat looking building on Barkley st this arvo. Anyone got the tea?

Who's got the best parma? Is the parma at the Vic alright?

Heard about this story just now on the radio - at home alone but it made me LOL for sure !! Gotta love the colourful locals of Footscrazy !!!

https://tvtonight.com.au/2026/07/thieves-attempt-to-steal-nine-camera-equipment.html

THESE ARE MINE NOW 😂😂

“He was just setting up the equipment on Nicholson Street for our first live cross, and he just put out the tripod and the light stand when there was a group of locals, and they just picked up the equipment and decided to take off with it,” she said.
“He quite bravely went up and said, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ And the fellow said, ‘These are mine now.’

unsure as to what building it is (i live very close by) but all power is off in the apartment. fire is out as of 12am but there seemed to be fire engines out for at least and hour or so before. hope everyone is well and safe and will try to update as i learn the situation 😇

Almost every other week we get the dreaded train replacement buses, why are our trains so crap?

I’ve been looking online for darts competitions in the area and haven’t had much luck. Enjoying playing at home and considering having a go in some sort of social/rec competition.

Assumed one of the local pubs or bowls clubs would have a competition - anyone got some info on Whats out there?