In 1998 the Society received a donation of a framed mounted photograph and medals of a World War 1 soldier donated by his daughter and granddaughter. They wanted it preserved because there was no one left in the family to whom it could be left.
PMH&PS Collection: Private George Williams
The photograph and medals belonged to George Williams who served in the…
Roland Thomas Rose c1925
Roland Thomas Rose, Licensed Grocer of 168 Ross Street, Port Melbourne, the proud owner of his 'company' car.
In the mid 1930's, some ten years after this photograph was taken, Roland was tragically killed in a car accident on the corner of Ross and Graham Streets.
The small boy standing on the running board is his son, Frank William (Bill), who was…
Documenting change
PMH&PS is fortunate to have in its collection an impressive number of photographs taken by Ron Laing (1920 to 2003)
Ron Laing spent the years between his retirement in 1984 and the end of his life documenting the massive change that was taking place in Port Melbourne through that time. ‘I’d heard that things were going to change round…
From the PMHPS collection
A place of “Welcome and Farewell” - Early settlers, cargo ships, soldiers going overseas to fight in the wars, new migrants and travellers embarking on an overseas holiday would throw coloured streamers to family, friends and departing soldiers on the pier.
streamers sold at the Eastern kiosk, Station Pier
Station Pier was originally Railway Pier, built in 1854…
The original Church of England in the Borough of Sandridge was established in a tent on the corner of Bay and Graham Streets in 1854. It was reported in the Church of England Messenger of 1854 that '...a commodious tent, we'll fitted up, has been opened for Divine Service on Sundays and for a school during the week.'
To replace the…
Bay Street Shops 1875: Charles Nettleton: PMHPS Collection
Some of the early items added to the PMHPS collection were three very large pawnbroker’s pledge books. They were found in a chimney in Bay Street, from the Johnny Allsorts Pawnbrokers. They contain thousands of poignant transactions involving most Port families during Australia’s severe Depression 1891 to 1898.
The shop pictured here in 1875 at 239…