Altona, by the water and back from it
On the bay
Altona is on the western shore of Port Phillip and has one of only two swimming beaches in the western suburbs. Its elevation is 8 m, with wetlands and coastal parks along the shore.
Built mainly from the 1950s
eMelbourne says Altona grew fastest between the 1950s and 1980s. Many earlier houses were technically holiday shacks, and the housing now is mostly brick veneer and timber detached homes.
Industry next door
Post-war zoning set aside about a third of Altona for industry, and the petrochemical complex dates from the early 1960s.
Very few trees
Hobsons Bay measured 6 per cent tree canopy in 2018, against 15.3 per cent across Greater Melbourne. Gutters here generally collect less leaf litter than under big trees.
Houses and townhouses
At the 2021 Census, 61.1% of occupied dwellings were separate houses and 30.1% semi-detached or townhouses.
How far from salt water BlueScope recommends each product
| Exposed marine (the bay from Altona to Portsea) | Calm marine (such as Williamstown and the Yarra) | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard COLORBOND (Classic and Matt finishes) | More than 200 m | Any distance |
| COLORBOND Ultra | More than 100 m | Any distance |
| SUPERDURA Stainless | Any distance | Any distance |
| ZINCALUME | More than 200 m | More than 100 m |
What that means for an Altona roof
BlueScope measures from the high water or tide mark. Within 200 m of the bay, standard COLORBOND and ZINCALUME fall outside its recommendations, COLORBOND Ultra is recommended beyond 100 m, and SUPERDURA Stainless suits any distance. Ask the roofer which product they're specifying, have them confirm the marine classification for your address, and get the product name written on the quote. Colorbond roofing in Melbourne covers the wider choices.
BlueScope also says real performance depends on local conditions such as prevailing winds and parts of the roof that rain doesn't wash. Screws, flashings and the underside of eaves are where salt builds up, so a gentle hose-down from the ground now and then helps.
Away from the water, Altona's brick veneer homes mostly need the usual: cracked tiles, ridge mortar and tired gutters. Old shacks that were extended over the years can have patchy roofs, and some contain asbestos cement sheeting, so have that checked before any work starts.
Where we'd start
Near the bay, we'd choose the roofing product by distance from the water first and colour second, and we'd want that product named on the quote. Inland, a roof inspection and a gutter clean usually tell you most of what you need. Tell us the job and your postcode. If we have a licence-checked roofer covering Altona, they'll get your contact details and no other roofer will; if we don't, we'll tell you straight away.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.
