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
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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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. We felt it was time the station was given the recognition it deserves, and hopefully Heritage Victoria will agree with us. However it will be many months before a decision is made. If you would like to read our submission it can be found at https://emhs.org.au/catalogue/emdf0293
Several people helped us in preparing the submission who we would like to thank, they are: Australian Historical Railway Society, especially Ian Jenkins; Bruce Trethowan, Liz Rushen, David Wark and Breton Clifford.
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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 an
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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'.
BUNJILAKA ABORIGINAL CULTURE CENTRE
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Centre contains a permanent exhibition, created by a shared enterprise between Museum Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community.
Forthcoming activities
Recent acquisitions
1857 Bradshaw's map of Melbourne & suburbs
A map of Melbourne and suburbs, with streets named and churches and public institutions marked.
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1859 Geological Survey Map
The map shows the central city grid and suburbs to the south and east, including East Melbourne.
- 7 reads
1843 Plan of Richmond by Robert Hoddle
The map shows Collingwood and Richmond subdivided into allotments. The Richmond allotments are inscribed with the names of the original purchasers. To the west of Richmond the part of E
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1848 Plan of Parish of Jika Jika
The map shows Richmond subdivided into allotments with names of first purchasers inscribed.
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1856 Plan of Eastern Hill
Map shows Eastern Hill marked with churches and public buildings. The map shows some buildings which have been all but forgotten such as the Baptist Chapel, Police Barracks, the Reservoir and
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