The original Aboriginal inhabitants had a name for the river that flowed through the plains of 'Imaroo', it was 'Werribee', meaning spine or backbone.      

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On the 16 & 17 December 1824 the explorers Hume and Hovell camped close to and at the Werribee River, commencing their return journey to Sydney on the 18 December 1824. Upon their return they gave a glowing report of the country they had explored.

 

In July 1835 John Helder Wedge, the ex-Government surveyor of Van Diemens Land, crossed Bass Strait to make a detailed survey of land that John Batman had acquired. He divided the huge area into 17 Lots, five of these being in the Werribee area.      

 

Due to a reliable water supply from the river, and an overnight stop being required for the trip between the developing cities of Melbourne and Geelong, a small village named Werribee developed at the river.    

 

In the late 1840's Thomas Chirnside moved to the Werribee area and later built the Mansion at Werribee Park.      

 

In 1860 a site near the present Hoppers Crossing Railway Station was chosen to be the starting point of the first accurate surveying of the whole of Victoria.      

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From these early beginnings, the township and surrounds has become the City of Wyndham, now boasting thriving farming, industrial, technological and educational precincts and a population in excess of 240,000.