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.
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Recent articles
Valetta - an East Melbourne story
East Melbourne’s first crown land sales were held on 16 June 1852. Prior to this the area had been a popular place for local Aboriginal groups who were attracted to its swamps and lagoons as fishing grounds.
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- 161 reads
President's Christmas Letter & Membership Renewal
Dear Members,
It has been a topsy turvy year for us all but thankfully we seem to be headed in the right direction in managing the spread of the COVID virus.
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- 1491 reads
Streets of fear in city's wealthy enclave
Article in the Australian 24 August 202 midst covid-19
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- 1686 reads
Reopening of St Peter's Plaza Eastern Hill, 10 November 2019
On 10 November, St Peter’s Plaza and the restored ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ were re-opened to the public. Dating from 1924, the cross is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War 1, modelled on wayside crosses in France and is the only one of its kind in Australia.
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- 2418 reads
Jolimont Station: submission
The East Melbourne Historical Society has recently nominated Jolimont Station for inclusion on the Heritage Victoria register. The station has been a long overlooked part of our history. It does not appear even on the City of Melbourne's Inventory of Heritage Places.
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Forthcoming activities
Afternoon Tea at Bishopscourt
Enjoy tea and company in the glorious gardens of East Melbourne’s stateliest home.
Helen Botham, an expert on the garden and its history, will conduct a tour at 4.15 p.m.
Please RSVP by Monday 14 February for catering purposes
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Frances Burke: textile designer
Robyn Oswald-Jacobs will speak to us about the life and work of Frances Burke (1904-94). Burke was the leading textile designer in Melbourne from the 1940s to the 1960s.
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- 9 reads
Recent acquisitions
A Cook, a book and a new look
Newspaper clipping about the launch of a new book, Blak Cook Book, by Dr Clare Land, Dr Paola Balla and Kate Golding on behalf of the City of Melbourne. The book features a range of stories and artworks which seek to balance the story of Captain Cook's 'discovery' of Australia with an Aboriginal perspective.
- 51 reads
East Melbourne, Hotham Street 131, Cairns Apartments - auction 2017
Newspaper clipping reporting on the upcoming auction of Apartment 1, Cairns Apartments, 131 Hotham Street, East Melbourne. Detailed description. Auction scheduled for 11 September 2017.
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Kick for Demons
Newspaper clipping reporting on plan by the Melbourne Football Club to build a training ground in Yarra Park with associated office building over the adjacent railway line. Residents, led by the East Melbourne Group, strongly opposed the plan.
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Jagged line to Jolimont
Newspaper cutting with a short article about former footballer, Chris Judd, leasing 66-68 Jolimont Street, Jolimont, as headquarters for the online sportwear company, Jagged, of which he is part owner.
The cutting has been cut and re-formatted from the orginal, larger, article for ease of reading.
- 39 reads
Gone to War as Sister: East Melbourne Nurses in the Great War
In 1915 the East Melbourne Historical Society, led by Janet Scarfe, researched the lives and work of nurses who served in WW1 and who had a connection with East Melbourne and Jolimont. Their stories and accompanying images were published on our website and are searchable under their individual names.
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