Pylons at Princes Pier, Port Melbourne
In a way it was fitting that it was a grey and rather sombre day for the launch of the ANZAC Centenary commemorations at Princes Pier.
Today marks the day 99 years ago that the HMAT Orvieto departed from then Railway Pier in Port Melbourne. The Orvieto troop ship was the lead ship in the convoy…
Last week, Premier Napthine and Planning Minister Guy released Plan Melbourne which sets out the government's vision for Melbourne to 2050.
In the Society's collection is a copy of the first plan for Melbourne prepared by the newly formed Metropolitan Town Planning Commission in 1929. While the whole report is full of interest, unsurprisingly PMHPS headed straight for the Port Melbourne references.…
PMHPS finds it endlessly fascinating that it is still possible to 'read' the shaping stories of Port Melbourne in its street layout - the influence of the Lagoon and the Railway in particular.
Township of Sandridge 1860, State Library of Victoria
This is well explained in this report:
"Perhaps the most significant element of Port Melbourne's infrastructure in terms of its ability to…
Dr Stefan Schutt is documenting 'ghost signs' around Melbourne. That led to thinking about signs in Port Melbourne.
Port Melbourne's most splendid signs would have to be those that adorned the UDL building (now the id apartments) on Pickles St. They were painted by sign writer Keith Martin. UDL was a successor company to Joshua Bros Distillery which made brandy, whisky…
Letty Bellion
Margaret Bride tells the story of her grandmother Letty Bellion. Her story is a window into Port life through the 1890s depression, the First World War and the difficult post war years that followed.
The story tells of a disappeared cluster of shops in Graham St, and the shadow cast on this family and community by the First World War.…
Surveyor Darke's camp, Sandridge W.F.E. Liardet, State Library of Victoria
William Darke gave the name Sandridge to the area now known as Port Melbourne. He was one of three surveyors sent by Governor Bourke in 1836 to survey the shore of Port Phillip Bay and plot the course of the Yarra River. The name described the 'mile upon mile of sand…
Flinders Street Station c1854. Australia's first railway. Sketch by S.T. Gill showing the first station buildings and the single line from Sandridge.: Culture Victoria
'Yesterday was memorable in the annals of Victoria and of Australia, for the opening of the first Australian railway' (The Argus 13 September 1854)
On 12th September 1854, the first journey on the first steam railway in…
Existing since Federation, Melbourne Ports has been held by the Labor Party since 1906 and has had only five members in 107 years since.
Former members of the seat were
Jim Matthews 1906 - 1931
E J Holloway 1931 - 1951
Frank Crean 1951 - 1977
Clyde Holding 1977 - 1998
Michael Danby since 1998
Postscript: On 5 July 2018, Michael Danby announced he would not contest…
There is something in the Society's collection for every interest. A leather bound alphabetical index book lists all dogs registered in Port Melbourne in 1892 by owner surname. Even in 1892 there were dogs large and small - from Newfoundlands to poodles. The names of the dogs are not recorded - that would have been revealing.
Register of Dogs 1892. PMHPS…
In one week, The Borough and Its People: Port Melbourne 1839 to 1939, by members Margaret and Graham Bride has been spotted on display at the State Library of Victoria, the Port Melbourne Library and the Prahran Mechanics Institute Victorian History Library. Congratulations!
At the State Library
At the Port Melbourne Library
At the Prahran Mechanics Institute Victorian History Library