Places – Page 2 – Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society

The Last Train from North Port

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryMay 24, 2024

by Julie Peters I was one of the nine Cogan kids who lived in the old general store on the corner of Ross and Raglan Streets. My grandparents had the business from the 1920s until it closed in early 70s. This area was prone to flooding. 1954, the family shop, Nana in doorway, corner of Ross and Raglan Streets (photo…

Buckingham Reserve

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryMay 3, 2024

by David Thompson Buckingham Reserve [highlighted]. City of Port Melbourne map (detail), Amended June 1983. PMHPS Collection. Cat No 704.02. Buckingham Reserve is near the western edge of Garden City. It is named for former Councillor and Mayor Theodore Thomas Buckingham. Tom Buckingham was elected to Port Melbourne Council on 21 January 1961 and served until 1986. He was Mayor on…

Lyons Street

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryApril 5, 2024

by David F Radcliffe Lyons Street runs parallel to Bay Street, from Liardet Street over Bridge Street and Spring Street East before curving, parallel to Crockford Street, to intersect with Raglan Street. However, this was not always the case. The existence and evolution of Lyons Street reflect the physical geography and the development of Sandridge/Port Melbourne. Lyons Street, Port Melbourne…

Leith Crescent

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryFebruary 2, 2024

by David Thompson Leith Crescent looking towards Howe Parade (2024). Photograph by David Thompson Leith Crescent is a short curving street running between Howe Parade and Williamstown Road. It is closed at Williamstown Road creating a cul-de-sac for the small number of ‘bank houses’ that face onto the street. And ‘bank houses’ are the key behind the naming of Leith Crescent.…

A Bank in Bay Street

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryJanuary 19, 2024

On Thursday, 1 January 1874 the following advertisement appeared on page 2 of The Argus newspaper. TENDERS are invited for the ERECTION of a BANK at Sandridge, for the National Bank of Australasia. Plans and specifications may be seen at our offices, 91 Little Collins Street West until the 8th inst. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be…

The “Worst Hovel in the Municipality”

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryDecember 8, 2023

by David Thompson At Port Melbourne Council on Tuesday, 13 Oct 1942, the Mayor, Cr Tom Griffin described the North Port Police Station as the “worst hovel in the municipality” adding “the building is a disgrace to Port Melbourne”.[1] There had been a North Port Police Station as an off-shoot of the main station in Bay Street since the early 1890s. Initially…

Tom Griffin

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryNovember 3, 2023

by David Thompson Thomas Griffin's grave at Lancefield Cemetery, 2024. Photograph by Daniel Brueckner. On Sunday, 8 Nov 1953 Port Melbourne Mayor, Cr E J Purchase with Crs J P Crichton and T G Douglas accompanied by the Port Melbourne Municipal Band attended the grave of the late Cr Tom Griffin at Lancefield. [1] This had become an annual pilgrimage since…

Kyme Place

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryOctober 6, 2023

by David F Radcliffe Kyme Place runs off Liardet Street behind the burnt-out old Port Melbourne Theatre. It provides access to the rear of commercial premises on Bay Street and a public parking garage. A distinctive building, also called Kyme Place, utilises the airspace above the car park. Constructed in 2012, it was designed by MGS Architects to provide self-contained apartments as well…

Garton Street

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistorySeptember 1, 2023

by David F Radcliffe Garton Street is a quiet cul-de-sac at the northern boundary of Port Melbourne. Gazetted in March 1860, this short street was settled soon after, as Sandridge expanded rapidly under the population pressures of the gold rush. Today it has an eclectic range of dwellings from different eras. There is also a disused factory. The street was…

Cyril Letts Reserve

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryAugust 4, 2023

by David Thompson Cyril Letts Reserve, 2023. Photograph by David Thompson. The triangle-shaped open space between Edwards Avenue and Howe Parade remained an unidentified reserve until the early 1980s when it was named in honour of former Port Melbourne Councillor and Mayor, Cyril Letts. Record, 28 Sep 1968 Cyril was born in Wedderburn in October 1908 and came to Port Melbourne in…

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians