Activities
Yarra - A Diverting History of Melbourne's Murky River
Kristin Otto's entertaining history of the Yarra River begins with the Kulin nation and its stories of creation and follows through to the building boom of the twentieth century. Through the millennia, the Yarra has been home, the source of life and the site of corroborees, entertainments, intrigues and endeavours of every description.
- 1720 reads
Annual General Meeting
The AGM of the East Melbourne Historical Society. The President and Treasurer will report to members and elections will be held for new officers and committee members.
The AGM will be followed immediately by a History of the Yarra River presented by Kristin Otto.
- 1455 reads
The Fight to Legalise Abortion
[This talk has been rescheduled as shown above.] Dr. Jo Wainer will talk about the history of the fight to decriminalise abortion.
Dr. Wainer and her husband, Dr. Bertram Wainer, were the leaders of the movement, and founders of the Fertility Clinic in Wellington Parade. East Melbourne has long been a place where someone in need could find an abortionist, and abortion and the fight to legalise it are now very much part of the suburb's history.
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- 1517 reads
Dr. Cairns and Cairns Memorial Church
Lawrence Moore told us about the life and times of Rev. Dr. Adam Cairns and the history of the church named in his memory. Lawrence was organist and member of the congregation before the church was destroyed by fire and is an authority on Presbyterian church history.
- 1501 reads
Bishopscourt tour
An informal tour of Bishopscourt generously hosted by Archbishop Philip and Mrs. Joy Freier and guided by Bishop James Grant and Helen Page.
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- 1962 reads
Life at Bishopscourt
Following our AGM, Rev. Clemence Taplin, daughter of Frank Woods, Archbishop of Melbourne 1957–1977, and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia 1970–77, will talk of her memories of growing up at Bishopscourt.
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- 1379 reads
The Origins of Australian Rules Football
150 years ago the first game of football was played in Yarra Park between teams from Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar. Professor Blainey will examine the origins of our local game.
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- 1318 reads
Margaret McLean: the first signatory on the 1891 Petition for Women's Suffrage
In celebration of the centenary of women's suffrage in Victoria Dr. Liz Rushen will talk on Margaret McLean and her contribution to the cause. Mrs. McLean lived at 'Torloisk', on the corner of Vale Street and Wellington Parade South. She was the first signatory on the 1891 Petition for Votes for Women.
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- 1274 reads
Winston Burchett: a life remembered
Stephanie Alexander shared memories of her father Winston Burchett, well known to all East Melbourne residents as local historian and author of East Melbourne, People, Places Problems 1837-1977 and East Melbourne Walkabout. His Conservation Reports and Index to City of Melbourne Notices of Intent to Build are still the basis of much local and architectural history research today.
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- 2364 reads