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Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Fishermans Bend Migrant Hostel

Mike Brady's huge contribution to Australian life has been recognised in the Queens Birthday Honours with an AM. A less well know part of his story is the time his family spent in the migrant hostel in Fishermans Bend after their arrival in Melbourne in the '50s.  The experience of life in the hostel is described in a colourful way by…

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Beacon views

Do you remember that a previous post on the beacons mentioned that the off shore beacon used to have a timber walkway connecting it to the shore? These two great images from the City of Port Phillip's collection show this perfectly. view to the shore, Commonwealth Engine Works (left) and the Mission to Seamen (right) The citation says the photos were taken…

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Farams

This is not the place to tell the tale of Farams because it has been done with so much care by Kevin Anderson in his film The Last of the Independents. People often mention having seen it when you say you come from Port. 'Farams' has become the word that seems to capture the feeling about the changes in Port over…

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Edwards Park

The layout of Edwards Park has adapted to a range of activities over time. The radial paths meeting in the centre create a setting that lends itself well to Port's current preoccupation with exercise, health and fitness. A playground for children has been a part of Edwards Park from the beginning. Edwards Park was once part of the tapering Sandridge Lagoon. The…

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Jack’s journeys

Journey no 2 Here is an account of some research recently completed by member Jack Bolt. Jack says in summary: 'Read a book, find an item interesting, go to the book's references and web, do more personal research closer to home, find some more information/data, and inadvertently meet a PMHPS member who is part of the story. It only took about a week. …

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Beacon gets a coat of paint

The off shore beacon is being painted. Off Shore beacon gets a coat of paint, May 2013 The beacons are a much loved and defining feature of Port Melbourne. Wide Beacon Vista with its generous front setbacks reflects the historic need to maintain a line of sight and clearance between the beacons. Until Princes Pier was refurbished, the off shore beacon was…

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Beards

Beards have perhaps not made as much of a come back in Port as in some suburbs north of the river.  Nevertheless, this post takes a look at some of our former Port leaders from a beard perspective. Thomas Swallow, founder of the Swallow and Ariell biscuit company, sported a neat and trim sort of beard. Thomas Swallow PORT PHILLIP CITY COLLECTION Swallow went…

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Anzac Day in Port Melbourne 2013

Was it the beautiful sunny day or the growing pull of the Anzac tradition that led to this year's record crowd at the Port Melbourne Anzac service? Commander Mike Lovell once again gave a memorable address - all without notes. His theme was the evolution of Australian society from a time when white males ruled at home and in all areas of…

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Port Melbourne’s early aviation history

Kevin O'Reilly, aviation historian, shared his astonishing collection of photographs and deep knowledge of his subject with members. What follows is not an account of Kevin's wide ranging talk - just some observations arising from it. The Shaw-Ross aerodrome was the first to be licensed. The proximity of the aerodrome to Princes Pier and to the bay was a surprise. As…

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PMHPS acknowledges the generous support of the City of Port Phillip.

 

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Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet and work, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.