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

Movement at the Station (Pier)

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…

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A Kerosene Ship in Flames

The Hilaria, a 1,500 ton two-masted ship from New York caught fire at Town Pier on the morning of the 7th July 1895. Earlier it had been ordered to an outer anchorage away from the pier as its manifest included a case of detonators as well as the usual general cargo including kerosene, rosin and other flammable materials.  The Captain had no…

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This is Where the Story Ends

In the story of our first settlers we often focus on the arrival in November 1839, their subsequent settlement at the Beach and those early years during the establishment of Sandridge but what of their later life? By 1853 Wilbraham and Caroline Liardet were living at the Chusan Hotel in Bay Street, which was owned by their sons, Frank and Hector. A…

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Trash & Treasure

Trash & Treasure Market sign (c 2007) - Photo by David Thompson I snapped this sign in 2007 on the fence at the former St Josephs Primary School site in 2007 near where Swallow Street diverges from Graham Street near the overpass but for me it has always raised one question.  When, exactly, was the Trash & Treasure Market held? Time for a bit of detective…

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Port Melbourne on location

  Approach to the Graham St overpass, Port Melbourne A glimpse of the Graham St overpass in the current TAC (Transport Accident Commission) road safety campaign triggers a post about Port Melbourne as a location in films. Port Melbourne was the scene of the early 1905 Limelight documentary film showing Swallow and Ariell and employees leaving the building from a very recognisable Rouse St. The late 1980s was a…

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The Graham Street Rockeries

This is the briefest beginning of stories associated with the Graham St overpass. Before the West Gate Bridge was built, access to the other side of the river at Newport was via a ferry at the end of Williamstown Road.  The Graham Street overpass was built in the late 1970s in anticipation of the growing number of cars that would pass…

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Anzac Day in Port Melbourne 2014

'We will honour them by being silent' 1 Perce White was the MC for the 2014 commemoration of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli. Perce White MCs proceedings at Anzac Day 2014 It was one of those perfect Port Melbourne mornings that make people love living in Port more than ever. About 500 people gathered for the Anzac Day commemoration.  The Piers provided…

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Princes

Today's post is prompted by the royal visit to Australia and the approach of Anzac Day. The Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VIII, visited Melbourne in May 1920 on board the British warship HMS Renown. He came to represent his father King George V to thank Australia for its part in the war. His visit was eagerly anticipated with crowds…

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Housing prisoners

Prison hulk SUCCESS, State Library of Victoria The Victorian government announced this week that it will be buying more shipping containers to house the growing prison population. The news prompted this post. To get your bearings for this story, place yourself on the beach between the Life Saving Victoria headquarters and the Sandridge Life Saving Club. In the 1850’s, clearly visible between…

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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.