End of War – Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society

Returned Soldiers’ Reception and Smoke Concert

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryDecember 5, 2018

About 250 returned soldiers and sailors with about the same number of relatives attended the civic reception provided by the Mayor, Cr Richard Gill and councillors at Port Melbourne Town Hall on the afternoon of 5 Dec 1918. The reception and the ‘smoke concert’ to be held later that evening were the work of the Anzac Reception Committee that had been…

Welcoming the Returned Soldiers

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 23, 2018

Some three thousand people gathered along the roads leading from the New Railway Pier (Princes Pier) on the morning of Saturday 23 November 1918 to welcome the first contingent of returned soldiers.1 Barriers along the route restricted the roadway to 12 feet to allow the cars carrying the soldiers to proceed to the city. At the foot of the pier, two strong…

The End of War – Thanksgiving Services

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 17, 2018

The brief article above appeared in the Standard newspaper on 16 November 1918 and unfortunately there does not appear to be any reports in subsequent editions of the Standard to record the order of service for any of the local churches. There is an article in that same edition of the Standard that gives a hint of what was planned…

The End of the War – Friendly Societies’ Dispensary

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 14, 2018

The Friendly Societies’ Dispensary committee of management met for their monthly meeting on Thursday evening [14 Nov 1918]. The president, Mr S Spielvogel, put forward the following motion "That this meeting of the representatives of Friendly Societies in Port Melbourne have much pleasure in recording its thankfulness to the Almighty for the glorious victory the British nation and Allies have achieved in…

The End of the War – Nott Street State School

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 13, 2018

At 11.30am on Wednesday (13 Nov 1918] one thousand students of Nott Street State School paraded in the school grounds where they saluted the flag, sang the National Anthem and patriotic airs. The students were addressed by the headmaster, Mr Richards, Cr J P Crichton, chairman of the school committee, and Mr J L Murphy MLA. Mr Richards gave an apology from…

The End of the War – Good Templars

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 12, 2018

Brother Austin, the Grand Chief Templar of Victoria, presided over the meeting of the Mutual Help Lodge held at the lodge room in Graham Street on the Tuesday evening [12 Nov 1918]. The meeting was opened with the singing of the National Anthem followed by the lodge’s version of “God Bless Our Splendid Men”. Brother C H Martin moved ‘That this meeting…

The End of the War – Swallow and Ariell

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 12, 2018

‘On Tuesday morning [12 Nov 1918], before 8 o’clock, the 700 girls and 650 men and lads employed at … Swallow and Ariell assembled at the factory – but not to work’. They cheered the King, the Empire, the Allies, and Australia again and again. They then formed a procession with the company’s motor wagons and led by a car they…

The End of the War – Hostilities Cease

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 11, 2018

About 7.30pm on Monday 11 Nov 1918, around the time the Bay steamers were returning from their day’s excursion, the news that Germany had signed the armistice reached the port. Suddenly a 'powerful whistle on the Port Melbourne shore echoed across the Bay'1 and for the next half hour the Bayside resounded to the grand chorus of sirens and ship’s whistles.…

Anzac Reception Committee

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryNovember 9, 2018

Barely a week after the home leave for the original Anzacs had been announced, the Minister for Defence, Senator Pearce sanctioned the appointment of a special committee to take charge of arrangements for a fitting welcome for the returning men.1 Local authorities were encouraged to make their own local arrangements and Mrs Suffolk, Honorary Secretary of the Port Melbourne Women’s Welcome…

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians