Port Melbourne History – Page 26 – Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society

The Man in the Photo

People, Port Melbourne HistoryJune 6, 2016

Members of the Port Phillip Stevedores Association, 1905 Recently I spoke at a seminar at the Victorian Genealogical Society on the topic “Port Melbourne 1839-1880". As I wanted to mention the formation of trade unions in Port Melbourne I showed this photo of ‘Members of the Port Phillip Stevedores Association’ from 1905. You will notice that all of the men in the…

Pickles Street

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryMay 10, 2016

The earliest streets named on the Street Plan of Sandridge 1849 were those clustered around the foundation place of the early settlement - Bay, Dow, Rouse, Stokes, Graham. They were named from Sydney. Garryowen made this unflattering assessment about some of the later names: ‘the nomenclature (street names) was distributed amongst a batch of local mediocrities.' He adds ‘Certainly they have amongst…

‘Anger at City Gateway Eyesore’

Port Melbourne HistoryApril 9, 2016

It is not the first time in Port Melbourne's history that the entry to Melbourne from Port Melbourne has been described in these terms. In 1929, the Metropolitan Town Planning Commission report described 'this approach to Melbourne is a drab and shabby one which has been the subject of criticism by visitors as well as by citizens.' Their proposed solution was a…

Miss Jago’s Corner Shop

People, Places, Port Melbourne HistoryApril 1, 2016

Annetta (Joy) Phillips writes about the former shop on the corner of Heath and Ingles Streets: Irene ('Rene') was the elder of two Jago sisters. In 1937 she opened a grocery and bakery shop at 101 Ingles Street. Irene Jago outside the shop, corner Ingles and Heath Sts Rene was in charge of the shop and her sister Bette worked with her. They lived behind…

A Brief History of the London Hotel

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryMarch 25, 2016

The London Family Hotel held the best position of all Port Melbourne's waterfront pubs, next to the Station and nearest to Railway/Station Pier. Meet me at the London 1930 image - Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society There was a time when this 28 room hotel was the most grand in Sandridge, which can be attested to by valuations of over twice as…

Family Memories of Jennie Baines

People, Port Melbourne HistoryMarch 18, 2016

Lyn McLeavy shares her aunts' recollections of Jennie Baines, and of her grandmother Mary McLeavy Mary McLeavy, children & friends at Waterside Workers Federation picnic 1932 - Lyn McLeavy Millie Jennie Baines was only that high (5’1”) The biggest thing about Jennie was her mouth. Didn’t she give us a bit of curry. Alice In the depression she went around with women from the Labor Party getting…

Growing up in McCormack St

Places, Port Melbourne HistoryFebruary 26, 2016

In April 2013, John Gilchrist walked the places where he grew up. The walk triggered these memories: John's family came to live in Port Melbourne from Warburton following the devastating Black Friday bushfires of January 1939. His father was a forester, but it was his mother who brought up the three boys - first from a small house on the south eastern corner of Bridge St…

Talking Tennis

Port Melbourne HistoryJanuary 29, 2016

This year the Port Melbourne Tennis Club has entered its 127th year, but it has not always been at its current location in Swallow Street. The tennis courts used to be in Garden City Reserve, where the Sandridge Community Centre and Trugo Club is now. This photograph c1929 dates from that time. A recent report in the Age about Henry Young from Adelaide,…

Albert Jacka VC and Port Melbourne I

People, Port Melbourne HistoryJanuary 15, 2016

Albert Jacka was the first Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross in World War 1. He was recognised for his most conspicuous bravery at Gallipoli and also on the western front. He later served as a Councillor and Mayor of St Kilda - an office he used to support the unemployed, many of whom were former soldiers. Albert Jacka was…

An Extreme Day in Port

Port Melbourne HistoryJanuary 14, 2016

It was a dramatic end to a record breaking hot day when the Spirit of Tasmania broke from its moorings in high winds at around 6pm on Wednesday 13 January. Winds of up to 100 kph accompanied a cool-ish change from the day's top of 41.9 degrees. The Spirit looked in danger of running aground and the beach was evacuated. It took two…

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians