Places – Page 12 – Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society

A Silver Anniversary

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryFebruary 24, 2014

Hoyt's Eclipse Theatre, Port Melbourne, C1940s. Harold Paynting Collection, SLV The Hoyt's Eclipse Theatre in Port Melbourne almost missed its silver anniversary according to an article in the Argus newspaper from 1949. The story goes, a woman living in the neighbourhood found a newspaper from November 1924 under her lino that described the opening of “new and modern movie house”. She…

HMVS Cerberus

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryFebruary 11, 2014

Helicopter Landing Dock at Webb Dock The recent arrival at Webb Dock of the Helicopter Landing Dock Ship, to be known as the NUSHIP Adelaide once commissioned, prompts a post on the arrival in Hobsons Bay of HMVS Cerberus in April 1871. The Cerberus arrived in Hobsons Bay after 'a weary voyage of 6 months duration'. With all that iron cladding - 8…

Finding

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryJanuary 29, 2014

The difference between joy and frustration in local history research is being able to find things. This was a theme of Monday's meeting. Further integrating the Society's computer records, catalogue database and paper files will make it easier for researchers to find what they're looking for in the fascinating PMHPS collection. Steve Tserkezidis, guest speaker, brings a particular tenacity to finding.…

Cottage on the corner

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryDecember 19, 2013

PMHPS has observed a notice of application for a planning permit for this house on the corner of Nott and Farrell Sts, Port Melbourne. Morley's Cottage: cnr Nott and Farrell Streets This is where William Morley lived. Morley was the the first chairman of Sandridge when it became a municipality in 1860. He was Mayor in 1867 and remained a Councillor until…

Port Melbourne Railway Station

Places, Planning & Preservation, Port Melbourne HistoryDecember 12, 2013

This week a Planning Panel has been meeting in Port Melbourne to hear submissions on the planning future of 1 - 7 Waterfront Place. The relationship between the proposed development of that site and the Port Melbourne Railway Station is one of the matters being considered. The building is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) which lists places of significance to the…

A bit early?

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryOctober 30, 2013

Robert Gooding at Olive's corner in Port Melbourne Walking through Olive's Corner earlier this week, saw a person reading the PMH&PS book 'Chartered Scoundrels: A Brief History of Port Melbourne Hotels'. Couldn't let this go unremarked and stopped for a chat. Robert Gooding enjoys visiting Port. By 9 am he had already taken two buses and a train to get here. With…

Gateway to Melbourne

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryOctober 23, 2013

The Town Planning Commission report of 1929 was very critical of the entrance to Melbourne from Port Melbourne. It reported that 'this approach to Melbourne is a drab and shabby one'. The honorary secretary of the Commission, Frank Heath, said hopefully 'What a difference a tree lined boulevard, extending for several miles around the esplanade would make to the Port Melbourne…

Foundation stories

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryOctober 10, 2013

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…

William Darke and Sandridge

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistorySeptember 19, 2013

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…

The first Australian railway

Places, Port Melbourne HistorySeptember 12, 2013

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…

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians