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

Is that photo real?

CollectionJanuary 23, 2026
by David F Radciffe Everywhere you turn, the potential benefits and possible risks of AI (Artificial Intelligence) are being discussed. It is almost impossible to avoid being offered AI assistance when you search for information online. Having experimented with generative AI tools like ChatGTP to ‘enhance’ historical images, the line between what is real and what is artificial quickly becomes…

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Matchbooks, Boxes and Covers

Collection, Port Melbourne HistoryJanuary 24, 2025
by David Thompson Item 2903 in the PMHPS Collection is a matchbox cover from around 1938 advertising the Freemason's Tavern. Freemason's Tavern matchbox cover, c 1938. PMHPS Collection Cat No 2903. Promotional matchbooks, matchboxes and matchbox covers* have gone out of fashion with less people smoking and the ban on smoking in public places in recent years plus the convenience of…

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The Petersons of Ross Street: A Nautical Family

Collection, People, Port Melbourne HistoryFebruary 8, 2024
by David F Radcliffe Frederick Peterson and Priscilla Hume were married at St James Cathedral in Melbourne in June 1869.[1] For 53 years, the couple were active members of the Port Melbourne community raising eight children here, five girls and three boys. Both Frederick and Priscilla came from families with strong connections to ships and the sea and this nautical tradition…

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Vintage Port Film Society

Collection, Port Melbourne HistoryNovember 24, 2023
The Vintage Port Film Society was formed in 1990 and ran for sixteen years until 2006. Pat Grainger was a member and donated to PMHPS a dossier of film schedules, programme/program notes and some newsletters from 1995 to 2006 (Cat No 4482). The Film Society was set up by Frank and Serena Steuart and monthly screenings took place at their…

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Dogs in Port

Collection, Port Melbourne HistoryAugust 17, 2023
A Random post about dogs from 2013 mentions that the Society holds a Register of Dogs in Port Melbourne from 1892 (Cat No 1730). In fact PMHPS holds six items relating to the registration of dogs covering the period 1882 to 1915 so let's take a closer look at the book that covers the years 1892 to 1901. Dog Register…

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Guardian Family Health Soap

Collection, Port Melbourne HistoryJune 9, 2023
Guardian Family Health Soap. PMHPS Collection Cat No 3423.03. Among the PMHPS collection is an aged, chipped bar of unused Guardian Family Health Soap. And what's more, the Society also has the original box. Box, Guardian Family Health Soap (front). PMHPS Collection 3423.02. Guardian Family Health Soap was produced by J Kitchen & Sons Pty Ltd and the description on the rear…

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A Plan for a Fence

Collection, Port Melbourne HistorySeptember 23, 2022
by David Thompson The PMHPS Collection includes a number of plans and some of the older ones - the ones from the Sandridge days - are works of art. Take, for example, Cat No. 88 - Elevation of Proposed Fence to Station Place Reserve. Elevation of Proposed Fence to Station Place Reserve. PMHPS Collection, Cat No. 88. The first thing you…

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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.