John Bichard Grut
John was the youngest of three surviving boys who were born to Peter Grut and his wife Elizabeth Mary née Bichard. He was born in Sandridge in 1861. John became a successful architect, builder and was prominent in many sporting clubs in Port Melbourne and South Melbourne.
He was also involved in the arts through his membership of…
Peter Gallienne Grut was born on the south bank of the Yarra in 1857.
His father, also Peter, bought land at the corner of Bridge Street East and Esplanade East in 1868/69. Peter grew up in a single-storey wooden cottage built on part of this land, described at various times as having either four or five rooms. Later, Peter and…

At the commemoration service held at the St Kilda Cemetery each year, Jacka's audacious acts of bravery at Gallipoli and on the western front are remembered as well as his service to the unemployed while a Councillor and Mayor of the City of St Kilda.
Perhaps less often told is a Port Melbourne dimension to the story. Captain Jacka VC…
Henry Brouard Grut
Henry was the eldest surviving child of Peter and Elizabeth Grut née Bichard. He was born on the island of Guernsey in 1853. The family migrated to the colony of Victoria in 1855. The family lived and prospered in Port Melbourne for many years. Henry lived with his family in ‘Guernsey House’, 232 Esplanade East.
Guernsey House courtesy of…
Allan Whittaker Commemoration 2017
Former Supreme Court judge Frank Vincent offered these reflections at the Allan Whittaker commemoration held on Princes Pier on Thursday 2 November. The gatehouse on Princes Pier has now been named the Allan Whittaker Gatehouse after sustained advocacy by the Whittaker Memorial Committee.
Port Melbourne at that time was a very poor working class suburb. It was made…

Olive's corner was officially so named on 7 December 2001 as a tribute to the life and values of Olive Zakharov - humanist and Federal Senator 1929 – 1995
Olive Zakharov was born at home in Kew on 19 March 1929.
Olive was educated at Ruyton Girls' School, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Secondary College and R.M.I.T.
Olive worked at Watsonia High School…
Margaret Bride writes of the stories locked up in this handsome clock on the wall of her dining room.
I inherited this clock from my mother. It hangs on the wall of our dining room and is constantly referred to when we want to time ourselves. It is a source of pleasure to all our family but it is also…
W.F.E. Liardet Surveyor Darke's camp, Sandridge State Library of Victoria
Leonard Storey was an interesting character, not so much for what we know of his life, but for what we don’t know. This enlivens our imagination into contemplating just where he originally came from and where he disappeared to. His known history spans just four years, from 1837 to 1841.
His…

Mr Webster's Brother
Margaret Bride writes
Our house in Evans Street was built by John Webster in 1886. He and his wife Mary lived there until his death in 1916. John Webster was a carpenter, working on the docks and at sea.
This is a photo of his younger brother whose name we do not know. He was a friend of Emily Lock’s…

William Cann (centre) with his soldier son Harry sitting to his right c 1915-19. Courtesy Geoff Lister.
Feeding the hungry children of Nott Street School in the 1930’s was a far cry from William Cann’s former life as a British soldier who had served in both the Zulu and Boer Wars. However, he did know what it was like to be…