Skip to content Skip to footer
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

State Schools Benefit – 31 July 1916

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryJuly 31, 2016
On the evening of Monday 31 July 1916 a State Schools Benefit Night was held at Port Melbourne Town Hall to raise funds for providing comforts for the wounded soldiers at the Caulfield Base Hospital. Tickets were sold through both the Nott Street and Graham Street State Schools and. according to the Standard newspaper, the hall was provided on very generous…

Read more

Well Represented at the Front

People, Port Melbourne HistoryJuly 21, 2016
'Well Represented at Front.', Port Melbourne Standard 15 May 1915 Our First World War Centenary project has uncovered many incredible stories of Port men volunteering for active service such as this one from The Standard newspaper on 15 May 1915. The first part of the article talks about four cousins, all born in Port Melbourne, who were serving at the Front.…

Read more

French Button Day

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryJuly 14, 2016
In July 1916, the Mayor, Cr Albert Tucker, instituted a French Button Day to be held on Friday, July 14 (Bastille Day). He called upon the ladies who had sold buttons on previous occasions and other ladies who would like to assist to sell buttons in Port on the day to support the French. Buttons could be collected for sale…

Read more

Certificates of Appreciation

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryMay 23, 2016
H J Ainsworth - Certificate from Town of Port Melbourne. PMHPS Collection In May 1916, Port Melbourne Council decided to give each soldier and sailor of Port Melbourne a certificate commemorating the citizens' commendation of his patriotism and requested 'relatives or friends to send to the Town Hall the name, corps, and home residence of every soldier who enlisted from this…

Read more

Reflections on Anzac Day 2016

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryApril 24, 2016
As we approach the 101st anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli it is interesting to look back at how the news of the first Australian campaign of the First World War was received in the Port and how they commemorated the first Anzac Day in 1916. The First Casualties In the weeks and months that followed 25 April 1915, as the authorities…

Read more

Soldier Send-Offs

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryFebruary 5, 2016
During the war years it was common for organisations and even groups of friends to organise send-offs for the mates and members who had enlisted for active service. Usually the soldier or soldiers were entertained with songs and recitations and were given a useful gift to take with to the front. Saturday 5 February 1916 saw one such send-off at the…

Read more

Answering the Call

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 27, 2015
For many years Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie Gregory RAN (RTD) had a vision of a statue on the Port Melbourne foreshore to honour the service of all Naval men and women.  On 27 November 2015 that vision came to fruition in the form of a sculpture called Answering the Call by Louis Laumen.  Unveiled by Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO CSC…

Read more

Graham Street School Honour Board

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 6, 2015
An article in the Standard under the headline "Answered Country's Call - Roll of Honor - Graham Street State School Old Boys" published on 6 November 1915 lists 61 names, Graham Street pupils who had enlisted for the Great War. The piece concludes by asking parents or friends of other "old boys" who have enlisted to send the soldiers' names, rank, dates of…

Read more

PMHPS acknowledges the generous support of the City of Port Phillip.

 

The content of this site (images and text) must not be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of PMHPS or the copyright holder.

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.