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
Jolimont and Repatriation
By 1917 it was apparent that repatriation services for returning service men and women were inadequate. Soldiers were arriving back in the country in large numbers, most of them damaged by illness or injury. Many of them would not be able to return to their pre-war occupations.
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More than a Kindergarten
An interesting side-light on the changing demographic of Melbourne in the years after the second world war was the decision to relocate the existing City Free Kindergarten in Exhibition Street (on the corner of Little Lonsdale Street) to Powlett Reserve in East Melbourne.
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The Curious Mr Stanford: from East Melbourne to California
Thomas Welton Stanford arrived in Melbourne in 1860 to make money. He achieved this by quickly securing the sole licence to import Singer sewing machines. But it is not for his business success that he is primarily known.
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Bedggood: Friendly Footwear
Daniel Bedggood arrived in Melbourne in 1854. Almost immediately he set up a boot and shoe factory in Richmond. A successful business from the start, succeeding generations kept it going and his son, John, oversaw the transition to a new and bigger factory in Jolimont, at 22 Agnes Street, in 1899.
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Yarra Park State School Comes Back To Life
Yarra Park State School In East Melbourne was located in a very prominent position - the intersection of Punt Road and Bridge Road. The building that still occupies the site and which housed the former school is familiar to generations of Melburnians who have passed through that intersection on the busy roads north-south and east-west.
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Forthcoming activities
Christmas Party
East Melbourne Historical Society members will gather together to celebrate the Christmas season in the beautiful grounds of Bishopscourt. The new archbishop, Ric Thorpe, will be in residence. We may catch a glimpse. Either way there will be plenty of food and drink, and fun and goodwill.
- 118 reads
Recent acquisitions
107 Powlett Street by Elma Roach, 1938
Black and white photo of painting by Elma Roach entitled Street, East Melbourne. The painting was reproduced in Art in Australia, November 1938. Link below.
The painting shows the house at 107 Powlett Street, East Melbourne, now much altered.
At the time Elma Roach was living in a converted stable behind 144 Gipps Street.
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East Melbourne, Powlett Street 107, 2025
Photo of the house at 107 Powlett Street, corner of Gipps Street, East Melbourne. Taken from the north east.
- 116 reads
Celia Sweetman - Order of Service
Order of Service on the occasion of Celia Sweetman's funeral, 21 February 2024. Celia was a long time resident of East Melbourne and was 100 years old when she died. Includes sseveral photos.
- 171 reads
Pyman's Pharmacy
A note from Andrew Pyman to his customers on his retirement and handing over of his pharmacy to new owners. He tells a little of the history of the pharmacy.
- 140 reads
Victorian Historical Journal June 2025
Articles on aspects of Victoria's history
This issue focuses on Understanding Victoria. Themes discussed include Federation and its effects; Feminist Activism, the Gay Movement and Black Power.
- 130 reads