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 news
Article in the Australian 24 AuReopening 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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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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Phil Ruthven Slides Available
There was an excellent attendance at our event on Wednesday 21 June 2017 when Phil Ruthven took us on a trip down Memory Lane looking back to Australia, Melbourne and East Melbourne in 1853 and 1953 to the present day. He also had the courage, audacity some might say, to predict what the circumstances might be in 2053.
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Richard Wynne, planning minister, states East Melbourne 'spectacular'
On Monday, March 9 2015 The Age ran an article by Clay Lucas under the headline 'Towers make city hostile. says minister'. In the article Mr Wynne said to have significant concerns over the levels of density that been approved for Melbourne's CBD. Asked about his favourite architecture he listed East Melbourne as one of his choices.
Forthcoming activities
Recent acquisitions
Treasury Square - Gas and Fuel-style debacle looms
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Garden Avenue
Newspaper clipping about sale of properties at 6 and 12 Garden Avenue, East Melbourne.
From: The Age, 9 November 2019, Commercial Real Estate
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The Wisewould Family
In 2014 Beatrice M Garner wrote The Wisewould Chronicles. The Wisewoulds lived for a time at 99 Hotham Street.
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Proposed Presbyterian Intermediate Hospital - East Melbourne
Fund raising for the new Presbyterian Intermediate Hospital in East Melbourne began in 1930.
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East Melbourne, Simpson Street 140
Auction brochure for auction of 140 Simpson Street, East Melbourne scheduled for 6 October 2018. Colour photos. Plans.
The property was sold for $2.27 million.
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