Footscray - the 'Cinderella' suburb?

Footscray has a long history of community action.

In the 1980s, residents from Cowper Street, Newell Street and nearby defeated a planned extension of Whitehall Street. This would have connected Ballarat and Dynon Roads but many homes - and an entire community - would have been destroyed.

During the campaign, historian Dr John Lack made the following observation: "[The road plan]...would continue the pattern of Footscray making sacrifices for metropolitan problems for which metropolitan solutions should be found.

"It presumes that if you want to do something cheap and nasty, let Footscray do it for you.

"Footscray is the Cinderella suburb, which will get you out of any difficulty you are in."

There is no question that modern Melbourne has transport difficulties. We, too, want to see them solved. (Then maybe we'd be able to fit on a rush-hour train!).

But why is it so often residents of the inner west that are asked to pay the price, when other options are available?

What price a home? Footscray residents protest the Whitehall Road extension

[1] An article from The Times, 9 May 1984, quoting Dr John Lack