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Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

‘The Lagoon Question’

Port Melbourne HistoryJanuary 15, 2015
The 'Lagoon question' preoccupied the residents and Council of Port Melbourne for decades. For those readers not familiar with the extent of the Sandridge Lagoon, it is clearly shown in this map and was described by surveyor Grimes in 1803 ... a salt lagoon about a mile long and quarter mile wide. Had not entrance to the sea. The township of…

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Looking back on 2014

Port Melbourne HistoryDecember 22, 2014
The Society started the year with this new website. This year we also ventured into facebook reaching 100 ‘likes’ in November. These social media have opened up new ways for people with a Port connection to  get in touch and share stories. We have learned about the micro-world that was the Fisherman’s Bend Migrant Hostel. This small photograph of a shop in Station St has brought out…

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Birth and demise of Holden at Fishermans Bend

Port Melbourne HistoryNovember 27, 2014
It was a defining moment for the nation. It heralded Australia becoming a self-reliant manufacturer. It happened in Fishermens Bend on 29 November 1948 when Prime Minister Ben Chifley revealed Australia’s first mass-produced car, the Holden. Prime Minister Ben Chifley at General Motors Holden Factory The following day, The Argus reported: 'About 400 guests of General Motors applauded when curtains were drawn back…

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Representing Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne HistoryNovember 20, 2014
With the 2014 state election imminent, this post looks briefly at two very different people who have represented Port Melbourne: Frederick Derham Frederick Derham arrived in Melbourne in 1856. Following the death of his first wife, Ada, he married Francis Dodd Swallow, the daughter of his business partner Thomas Swallow. He became the managing director of the company in 1888 and  the sole…

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Ghostly stories of Port

Port Melbourne HistoryNovember 13, 2014
A business near Holy Trinity church inquired whether there were ghosts in the area. The PMHPS has no records of paranormal activity in that vicinity, but there have been tales of ghosts in Port Melbourne. Take the curious case of the Graham Hotel. According to the owners, brothers Peter and Tony Giannakis, in 2001, a woman, dressed in white nightclothes and a…

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Dunlop wins the Melbourne Cup

Port Melbourne HistoryNovember 3, 2014
In a scrapbook in the Swallow & Ariell archive is a page of reminiscences about the ‘old’ days in Port Melbourne which includes a reference to the Melbourne Cup.  ‘old residents will remember the (navy) volunteers, led by Captain Swallow. We used to follow them around the streets, the band playing current tunes “Back Harry”. Moore, who died a few years…

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Allan Whittaker Commemoration 2014

People, Port Melbourne HistoryNovember 2, 2014
Former Supreme Court Judge Frank Vincent Reflections on 'entitlement' Here is a transcript of Frank Vincent's address to those gathered to remember the life and times of Allan Whittaker, shot by police at Hogans Flat, close to Princes Pier on 2 November 1928. He died on Australia Day 1929. 'There is a tendency to talk about Allan Whittaker and the period that he…

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The Dog Collar Act

Port Melbourne HistoryOctober 30, 2014
Jill Dawson, descendant of Bernt Aanenson writes:  After arriving from Norway in 1886, Bernt Aanensen and his brother Adolph "Dolph" married two sisters, Grace and Edith Perrett from Geelong. Both families lived in Port Melbourne. Bernt and Edith had ten children, with five generations of descendants, some of whom are still living in Port Melbourne today. Bernt and Edith Aanensen with eight of their…

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Wings over Fishermens Bend

Port Melbourne HistoryOctober 24, 2014
The aerodromes of Fishermans Bend and Port Melbourne are no more. Graham Street Aerodrome disappeared under industrial buildings, Garden City covers Port Melbourne Aerodrome, Coode Island Aerodrome is part of Swanson Dock, while roads fragment the site of Fishermens Bend Aerodrome. Aviation first arrived at the Bend when aviation pioneer R Graham Carey, with financial backing from the Mayor of…

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

 

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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.