My coastal suburb is a destination for birds but the human population is shrinking

October 26, 2026 — 7:00pm

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If I told you that I lived in one of four Melbourne suburbs that is a “meadows” could you guess it? What if I told you that while Melbourne’s population has been surging, my suburb was one of the rare few whose population has gone backwards? And that residents are pretty happy about it.

Between 2001 and 2021, Melbourne’s population increased by 1.5 million people. That 42 per cent rise – from 3.37 million to 4.92 million – has seen housing towers going up and roads getting busier. But there are fewer people in my suburb today than 25 years ago.

About 20 kilometres west of Melbourne’s CBD is the little-known suburban gem Altona Meadows. When you mention Altona, some people think this whole area is an industrial wasteland. But while there is industry around here, that’s several kilometres away in Altona North.

On your way to Altona Meadows, you should first check out Altona proper with its cafes, its popular beach and new pier. From there, if you keep heading west along Queen Street, you’ll cross Laverton Creek and find yourself in my special part of Melbourne. The Meadows, as it is colloquially known, is considered by some to be a bit of a poor cousin to Altona proper. It’s anything but. It’s an oasis tucked to the side of the sprawling chaos of Melbourne.

Altona Meadows is a quiet suburb, with just one small shopping centre where you can buy your groceries and other essentials. There are no........

© The Age