Beards have perhaps not made as much of a come back in Port as in some suburbs north of the river. Nevertheless, I thought to have a look at some of our former Port leaders from a beard perspective.
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| Thomas Swallow PORT PHILLIP CITY COLLECTION |
Swallow went from his birthplace of Reading in England, to California and to Ballarat before he started the biscuit company that has left such a significant footprint in Port Melbourne. Swallow was an entrepreneur and an innovator as well as being involved in every facet of early municipal and community life. He invested in sugar plantations in Cairns. Swallows had contracts with fruit growers in the Goubourn Valley – interesting to note in a week when SP Ardoma are reviewing their relationships with fruit growers because of the ongoing decline in sales of Australian packaged fruit.
George Sangter’s portrait in Terry Keenan’s interesting publication In Safe Hands: Presidents of the Port Melbourne Football Club shows a really wild beard, though it is more modest in the photograph from the Port Phillip City collection.
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| George Sangster PORT PHILLIP CITY COLLECTION |
George Sangster’s contribution to Port Melbourne is perhaps less well known than Swallow’s. He was a foundation member of the Seamen’s Union from 1872 as well as representing Port Melbourne in state parliament for 20 years until 1915. He was a dedicated socialist with strongly held views. Sangster opposed the Boer War and Federation. Sangster Reserve, behind the Port Melbourne Bowling Club, is an important place of reflection on the Whittaker walk conducted over the past few years.
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| Edward Clark PORT PHILLIP CITY COLLECTION |
sources and further information
Terry Keenan: In Safe Hands: Presidents of the Port Melbourne Football Club available from the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society
City of Port Phillip Heritage website
The Beginnings of the Borough: a City of Port Phillip Exhibition
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