Welcome
Welcome to the East Melbourne Historical Society.
East Melbourne is a tiny suburb adjoining the city of Melbourne bounded by Treasury and Fitzroy Gardens to the west, Victoria Parade to the north, Hoddle Street to the east and Yarra Park to the south, home of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. East Melbourne was included in Robert Hoddle's original 1837 plan for the city but the first private house was not built until 1853.
The suburb today reflects a history of Victoria with its beautiful gardens, grand houses of the gold rush era and workmen's cottages. Cast iron lacework adorns the houses, bluestone cobbled lanes lead to old coach houses and brick dunnies. Artists, scientists, politicians, judges, educators, priests, explorers, entrepreneurs, courtesans, philanthropists and social activists lived here and many a tale is told of characters wild and exotic.
- Read more
- 2504 reads
Site statistics
Recent news
Marvellous Melbourne - Queen City of the South
A documentary film made in 1910 about the City of Melbourne, then the interim capital cit
Snapped: Melbourne in a moment exhibition at East Melbourne Library
All shortlisted and winning entries from the biennial amateur photography competition, Snapped: Melbourne in a moment, are now on display upstairs at East Melbourne Library.
Drop in and be inspired by the work of our talented entrants.
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/MelbourneLibraryService/Pages/Snapped2012.aspx
When: Monday 14 January to Thursday 28 February
Where: East Melbourne Library, level 1
Help East Melbourne commemorate WW1
In 1914 the world will begin centenary commemorations of the First World War.
Along with many of their fellow Australians people from East Melbourne flocked to enlist. Many were heroes. Many lost their lives or suffered horrific physical or mental injuries. Many at home worked, endured and suffered consequences.
Yarra Park - MCG Responds
Our continuing campaign to improve the well-being of Yarra Park has achieved some modest improvements of late. Construction vehicles have been causing quite a bit of damage plane trees to the south-western corner near the hump-backed bridge. The cabman's shelter has also been under threat. (See our recent photographic study.)
In response to telephone calls and emails to the MCG executive office there has been a higher level of consciousness of the issues and some immediate actions to protect some areas. We are hoping for continuing improvements, especially as the footy season gets under way.
Protection of Yarra Park
Is Yarra Park being managed appropriately in accordance with its registration on the Victorian Heritage Register?
The southern corner of Yarra Park is taking a particular beating from car parking this summer. Our new photo record tells the story.
Forthcoming activities
Menzies Foundation AGM
Remembered lessons from the time of Menzies
- Read more
- 75 reads
Lowe Kong Meng of Valetta
Lowe Kong Meng was born in Penang and spoke English and French fluently. He arrived in Australia with the gold rush in 1853 and a year later had established an importing business in Little Bourke Street.
Lowe Kong Meng became a very successful businessman with interests in mining, trading, banking and insurance. His business activities extended from China, Singapore, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand. He lived at Valetta House, on the corner of Clarendon and Albert Streets, East Melbourne.
- Read more
- 137 reads
Janet, Lady Clarke and Women's Philanthropy in Australia
Dr.
- Read more
- 8 reads
Recent acquisitions
Yarra Park - MCC's vision
Pages from the MCC News December 2009. Front page shows MCG and surrounds. Yarra Park is almost denuded of grass and covered in cars.
- 90 reads
Jolimont, Palmer Street 5
A copy of Domain from The Sunday Age, 16 October 2011. A photo of Paul Caine, local real estate agent, on the front page.
- 70 reads
Horsemen make odd couple
Newspaper article giving the stories of the Stanford Fountain and the statue of poet and expert horseman, Adam Lindsay Gordon, both to be found in the Gordon Reserve.
- 73 reads
Vlado Gregurek, king of steak
Obituary and other newspaper clippings about Vlado Gregurek, restaurateur, who died 29 May 2012. Vlado was a resident of East Melbourne. Photos.
- 65 reads
Treasures of a teenage genius
A newspaper clipping about J.J. Clark, architect of the Old Treasury Building in Spring Street. Gives biographical information and lists other works.
- 95 reads
