Welcome
Welcome to the East Melbourne Historical Society.
East Melbourne is 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 and philanthropists lived here and many an anecdote is told of characters wild and exotic.
Our Society welcomes members to participate in our programme of talks, excursions, research projects and social activities. For enquiries about membership or about this website please Contact Us.
East Melbourne history milestones
1874 Yarra Park Football Match
40,000 years ago (or more): First Aborigines arrived in the Yarra area
1802: John Murray sailed into Port Phillip Bay on the Lady Nelson
1803: Lt-Governor David Collins took 460 convicts and white settlers ashore near Sorrento.
1835: Foundation of Melbourne
1839: La Trobe's cottage built in Jolimont, East Melbourne
1853: First private house in East Melbourne, built for Mr Cooke (more)
1858: First game of Australian rules football played at Richmond paddock
Forthcoming events:
New on the site:
- About the East Melbourne Historical Society Aims
To foster an interest in the history of East Melbourne.
To build an archive of material relevant to the history of East Melbourne.
To promote interchange of information through lectures and tours.
To promote heritage preservation.
Committee
Jill Fenwick (President)
1 week 6 days ago - Archbishop Sir Frank Woods (1907-1992)
A tribute compiled by Anglican Media
Originally published in 1993 by Anglican Media Melbourne and reproduced here with permission: http://www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/
1 week 6 days ago - Woods, Archbishop Frank and Mrs Jean
Archbishop Frank Woods and his wife Jean were residents of East Melbourne from 1957 to 1977 when they lived at Bishopscourt. Their daughter Clemence was six when they arrived in Melbourne from England for her father to take up his appointment. In October 2008 Clemence gave a delightful talk to Historical Society members about growing up at Bishopscourt.
2 weeks 2 days ago - McLean, Margaret (1845-1923)
Margaret McLean was a resident of East Melbourne and a towering figure in liberating women through education, health, prison reform, temperance and democratic participation. The material here was researched and presented to the Society by Dr Liz Rushen on 18 June 2008.
2 weeks 5 days ago - Riches, Nora - 100th Birthday
On 15 February 2008, local resident, Nora Riches turned 100. Her son, Graham, and his wife, Viv, invited family and friends to celebrate the occasion with her.
2 weeks 5 days ago
