This book is local history with a difference, it is the story of the development, struggles, failures and successes of a basically working-class community. It is the author’s belief that the whole history of Port Melbourne has been one of conflict: conflict between the individualistic pioneers, who first saw possibilities in the settlement they called Sandridge, and the already established businessmen and bureaucrats of Melbourne, who had different ideas; conflict between the political and other institutions within the growing community itself about the way it should go; and conflict with neighbouring communities. In the course of this study of the development of Sandridge from a primitive beach-side settlement of a few huts and a track towards a self-governing community, the authors describe the hopes and aspirations of the first community leaders and analyse the reasons why they so seldom succeeded in their aims. They trace how the institutions which grew with the community – the churches and masonic halls, the hotels and mechanics’ institutes, the schools and sporting clubs – all played their part in the unique community which became the city of Port Melbourne. In doing this they throw new light on the evolution of working-class politics at a local level, and demonstrate how often local ideas and aspirations were thwarted by the ambitions and greed of larger and wealthier communities. The book also provides the first full account of the development and growth of the new and nationally important Garden City residential area, and traces the inter-relationships between the development of Victorian planning mechanisms and the establishment of a new era in public housing through the creation of the Housing Commission. This is the story of a working-class, combative, remarkable community, told with affection and objectivity. The city itself and the people in it – from that colourful and extraordinary pioneer, W.F.E. Liardet, to the grey government bureaucrats who threatened the area’s tranquillity in the 1980s – are described with sympathy and understanding, to depict, as truthfully as is possible to any historian, their virtues and faults, triumphs and fiascos. (cover flap)

CONTENTS:
List of illustrations vii. Preface ix. Abbreviations x. Chronology xi. Introduction p1. Chapter 1: A piano tinkles by a salt lagoon p3. Chapter 2: Aesthete, adventurer and entrepreneur [W.F.E. Liardet] p10. Chapter 3: A community is born p16. Chapter 4: The fight for local government p35. Chapter 5: The framework of community p53. Chapter 6: The Glasgow of the south [industry] p78. Chapter 7: Carn the Boroughs [sport] p116. Chapter 8: The passing of the pioneers p123. Chapter 9: The big fish [politics] p165. Chapter 10: Days of sewers and South Africa p177. Chapter 11: Let there be light p189. Chapter 12: The war to end all wars [World War One] p207. Chapter 13: Solidarity forever [industrial relations] p214. Chapter 14: Workers’ gardens at the Bend [Garden City] p226. Chapter 15: A new wave of immigrants p254. Chapter 16: Forward to … p265. Appendix A: List of mayors since creation of the municipality p273. Appendix B: Councillors of the municipality p276. Appendix C: Members of the first Sandridge Council p282. Appendix D: Longest terms of office for councillors p283. Appendix E: Port Melbourne Cricket Club: most matches played; most runs; most wickets; notable bowling aggregates and averages p284. Port Melbourne Football Club: goal kickers; father and son; players who played the greatest number of games; premierships; players with the most best-and-fairest wins; Liston Trophy winners; families who played with club p285. Bibliography p287. Index p291. Notes on authors Nancy U’Ren and Noel Turnbull (back cover flap).

ILLUSTRATIONS (selected):
First landing place at Sandridge, 1840 (sketch) p4. Map: surveyor’s sketch of the track to Melbourne from Sandridge, 1839 p9. W.F.E. Liardet; Caroline Liardet p11. Map: surveyor’s sketch of the Sandridge beachfront in 1839 p14. Bay Street in 1853, sketch by Edwin Thomas p20. Map: plan of the allotments at Sandridge, 1849 p24. Map: plan of Sandridge in 1855 (Lands Department) p27. The Government Pier (or Town Pier) at the foot of Bay Street, 1859 p31. The Railway Pier, about 1865-75 p32. Sandridge beachfront in the 1860s, watercolour by H. Griffin p33. Another view of the beachfront between Town and Station Piers in the 1860s p33. Edward Clark, he was for a time secretary of the Sandridge Separation Committee, and the first Town Clerk p47. Thomas Swallow, noted local businessman, philanthropist, councillor, mayor; settled in Sandridge in 1854 p50. Wesleyan, later Methodist Church, from Graham Street; the parsonage is partly shown on the right; the church was demolished about 1972 p55. Holy Trinity Church of England, the iron church imported from England p57. Exterior of Holy Trinity Church after the gale in September 1908, showing the brick front which had been added to the older iron structure p58. The interior of Holy Trinity Church after it was wrecked by a gale in 1908 p58. Artist’s impression of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in 1881 (‘Australasian sketcher’). View from the Town Hall Tower showing the former Presbyterian Church on the Corner of Bridge Street and Nott Street, and the YMCA Youth Centre in Nott Street, about 1950 p61. Nott Street State School, with the caretaker’s cottage on the left, about 1880 p73. Graham Street State School about 1890 p75. A high school to serve Port Melbourne and South Melbourne children opened in 1968 in temporary premises, this photo was taken at the opening assembly of the new building, 1972 p77. ‘Then and now’ sketches of the Sandridge shore line, 1839 and 1875 (‘Australasian sketcher’) p79. Corner of Bay Street and Graham Street, from Holy Trinity tower; showing the Courthouse, Police Station and old Council Chamber, about 1870 p81. Some of the processes of the factory of Swallow and Ariell (‘Australasian sketcher’, 1882) p83. House built by Caleb Amos Kennett in 1868, later owned by the Prest family p85. Yachts moored in the lagoon, about 1890 p87. Bay Street looking towards the bay, the cluster of masts on the left is at Town Pier, on the right, at Railway Pier p96. The railway ornamental reserve near the intersection of Station Street and Farrell Street p101. North Sandridge, now North Port [Railway] Station, about 1980s p101. Fire at the Victorian Sugar Mill, July 1875 (‘Illustrated Australian News’) p115. A mark to Port Melbourne in a match against Footscray in 1909 [football] p121. Fishing off the pier, sketch in ‘Illustrated Australian News’ 1885 p122. The lagoon from the south-west showing the Rouse Street and Graham Street crossings, about 1870s p124. The lagoon, again from the south-west, showing part of the gasworks on the right and small craft in the foreground p124. Excavations at Fishermen’s Bend for the Coode Canal, 1880 (‘Australasian sketcher’) p128. Bay Street, between Graham and Rouse streets, about 1880, showing the National Bank branch, opened 1877, and Scott’s Hotel, in between is a shoe shop, far left are trees in front of Holy Trinity Church p135. The corner of Bay Street and Graham Street, about 1900, showing the back of the Post Office, rear of the Sugar Mill manager’s residence with early model rotary clothes line; also showing Brunswick Pier Hotel and the chemist shop of David Thomas p137. The Port Melbourne Coach Works of A.E. Wearne: showing a decorated dray p143. A line-up of newly assembled Ford motor bodies in the workshop of A.E. Wearne p143. Victorian Sugar Mill buildings, 1901, later taken over and extended by Robert Harper and Co. p144. The manager’s residence of the Victoria Sugar Mills, built about 1860, demolished early 1970s p145. F.T. Derham, partner to Thomas Swallow, Member of Parliament in 1885, Postmaster-General p153. Unloading kegs at Seismann’s Royal Mail Hotel, Bay Street, Lamb’s Hotel is opposite p159. P.M. Salmon p166. F.W. Poolman, in 1901, ex-President of the Robert Harper Company p171. Port Melbourne Chess Team 1907: F. Salmon, M.J. Bannan, P.J. O’Collins, H.C. Lloyd, R.D. Hosking, O.H. Unkenstein, C.H. Eddy (Hon. Sec.), F.J. Rogers, M.H. Read (Vice President), G. Sangster MLA (President), C. Moulin (Captain), C. Hayes p183. A cable tram in Bay Street, photo taken from the Town Hall tower, looking towards the Fountain Inn Hotel, about 1900 p187. Excursion departures: the steamer ‘Gem’ to Williamstown, and the departure point for the ‘Ozone’ and ‘Hygiea’ to Sorrento p187. The ‘Hygiea’ excursion ferry p188. Last of the fishermen’s cottages at Fishermen’s Bend, they stood until the 1970s p198. Watson’s Baths and the new Drill Hall, May 1901 p201. West Beach Swimming Club, late 1920s p202. The remains of Marshall’s Boot Factory after the fire, 1901 p204. Imperial Contingent, World War One, marching out of Crockford Street into Bay Street and towards the pier p208. Port Melbourne Council’s lawnmower, about 1920 p210. S.S. Anderson, Town Clerk p219. Official opening of the General Motors Holden plant by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, 1936 p222. General Motors Holden plant, 1936 p222. Aircraft produced at the Government Aircraft Factory and the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation; Port Melbourne’s aviation industry played a key role in Australia’s World War Two defence effort; planes shown: Nomad (GAF), Boomerang Fighter, Wirraway Trainer, Winjeel Trainer, CA-15 Fighter, Woomera Bomber p224. Aerial view of Station and Princes Pier, about 1939 p225. Bay Street, from the Town Hall, looking south towards the bay, a bus which replaced the cable tram service can be seen outside Chequers Inn, remains of the cable tram tracks are visible in the centre of the road p228. The first of the State Savings Bank sponsored houses at Fishermen’s Bend, built in Crichton Avenue in 1939, showing the street in 1939 and 1981 p234. At the corner of Page Avenue and Howe Parade, 1982 p237. Aerial view of Fishermen’s Bend, bisected by Williamstown Road, the first of the Garden City houses are in the foreground, the first of the oil tanks are on the edge of the bay p237. Official opening by the Premier, A.A. Dunstan, of the government’s first housing estate on Fishermen’s Bend (the Griffin Crescent, Southward Avenue area), 1936; the official party included Lands Minister Mr Lind, Port Melbourne Mayor Cr Rogers and Mr Murphy MLA p247. Mr Prendergast MLA (former Labor Premier) then 82, and Kevin Seager, then aged 2, meet each other at the opening, 1936 p247. Houses in Southward Avenue, 1982, it was the scene of the state government’s first housing project in 1936 p248. Quartets: one of the Housing Commission’s first excursions into unit accommodation for small families, built in 1948 in Williamstown Road p250. Port Melbourne Senior Citizens’ Centre, with Housing Commission flats on the left, facing Nott Street and Stokes Street p252. Housing Commission flats in Princes Street, from the Graham Street overpass, 1982 p253. The ‘Narana’ (ship), aground at Port Melbourne beach, about 1953 p264. Demolition of the Town Pier at the foot of Bay Street p264. Council workmen at the Graham Street railway crossing, about 1950: Messrs Leahy, Mallett, Flynn, Main, Johnson p264. J.P. Crichton, councillor and mayor p266. West Gate Bridge in the early stages of construction, taken from Fishermen’s Bend p270. The old and the new: one of the Housing Commission’s first estates, Garden City, and one of the most recent developments, the Sandridge Estate flats in Barak Road, completed in 1981 p272.

NAMES FROM THE INDEX:
A.J. Aanensen. Gilbert Acheson. A.E. Aitken. Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. J.W. Allen. S.S. Anderson. T.H. Ariell. D.C. Armstrong. J.P. Barry. Sir Henry Barkly. Marcus Barlow. F. Oswald Barnett. J.J. Bartlett. John Batman. Benjamin Baxter. Hannah Bayne. Sir Thomas Bent. Eliza Bishop. Margaret Bourke. Sir Richard Bourke. I. Brinton. W.P. Buckhurst. William Buckley. Nurse Burke. James Byrne. Robert Byrne. Callender and Caldwell. Arthur Calwell. D.S. Campbell. Cr Robert Carrick. Edward Clark. Andrew Clarke. Charles Clay. Freeman Cobb. Henry Cohn. Lieutenant Collins. C. Constantinou. Sir John Coode. James Cormick. T.P. Corrigan. Glen Cosham. Frank Crean. Simon Crean. J.P. Crichton. E.C. Crockford. E.J. Crockford. J.E. Crockford. Andrew Cruikshank. William Cruikshank. Henry Curtis. Jean Daley. William Darke. Albert Davies. A.O. Davies. Marian Davis. William Davis. G.W.S. Dean. F.T. Derham. Mrs Derham. Robert Derrett. Charles Dickinson. Val Doube. A.A. Dunstan. H.N. Edwards. James Eves. Henry Charles Farrell. Jane Farrell. Jim Farrow. J.P. Fawkner. Felton Grimwade. M. Fennell. James Flemming. J.L. Foster. H. Freame. W.J. Gabell. Gameson and Nankerville. Garryowen [Edmund Finn]. William Garton. Daniel Gilchrist. Sir George Gipps. Henry Glynn. R.K. Gregory. S. Gregory. W.H. Gresham. G. Griffin. Walter Burley Griffin. Charles Grimes. J.B. Grut. Peter G. Grut. W.H. Haines. G. Hall. James Hall. H.G.S. Hammond. Bill Hanneysee. John Mark Harris. Dr Hart. A.V. Heath. Henry Herneker. Thomas Hester. Grace Hill. Tom Hills. Robert Hoddle. Clyde Holding. Governor Hotham. E.B. Howard. W. Howe. Adam and Gresham Ingles. W. Ireland. Samuel Isaacs. F.C. Jackson. Mary Ann Jellard. K. Johnston. Joshua Brothers. Edward Joyce. Benjamin Kane. E. Kelleher. Mary Kelly. C.A. Kennett. Stephen Kourakis. Peter Lalor. Governor C.J. La Trobe. Captain P. Leigh. C. Liardet. F. Liardet. H.E. Liardet. W.E. Liardet. W.F.E. (Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn) Liardet. A. Lingham. James Locke. Captain Lonsdale. Joseph Lonsdale. A. Lyell. Alan McCarthy. James McCulloch. Richard McDonald. Frances McGovern. Mary McGovern. W.P. McGirr. Joseph Madden MLA. Dr R. Malcolmson. Maskell and McNabb. Captain Matthews. Daniel Matthews. Mary Matthews. S. Maugher. William May. J. Mitchell. William Morley. Mrs Morley. John Murphy. Joseph Murphy. Emma Newman. J.G. Newman. William Nicholson. William Nicol. Charles O’Mallery. F.I. O’Neill. Arthur Bedford Orlebar. Arthur Page. Captain Pasley. T.L. Pemberton. Walter Pemberton. John Pickles. Dr Andrew Plummer. James Ker Beck Plummer. Ralph Poole. F. Poolman. F.W. Poolman. ‘Toby’ Potter. T. Prest. W. Prohaskey. E. Purchase. F. Quinn. Robert Rea. A. Renowden. A. Rogers MLA. W. Rolfe. Charles Rose. E.F. Russell. G.P. Russell. P.M. Salmon. George Sangstern MLA. Carl Seisman / Seismann. James Service. Mrs Sheridan. Mrs Sim. T.C. Simpson. Owen Sinclair. Jan Soldatos. H.C. Southward. Leonard Story. Dr Charles Strong. Keith Sutton. Swallow and Ariell. Thomas Swallow. W.R. Tarver. Mrs V. Tate. W. Thackray. David Thomas MLA. John Jones Thomas. A. Todd. George Francis Train. L. Treacey. Les Turner. John Turnbull. Thomas Turville. R. Walsh. G.S. Walter. Samuel Walters. Thomas Warren. W. Watson. W. Weatherstone. J.B. Were. W.G. Westall. V. Whitty. F. Williams. G. Williams. J. Woodruff. M.T. Woodruff.

FULL INDEX available on library computers: Electronic resources \ Indexes \ Port Melbourne

PLACENAMES, INSTITUTIONS etc., FROM THE INDEX:
Abattoirs. Aborigines. Airport. Albion Hotel. All England Hotel. All Nations Hotel. Amalgamation proposals. Army and Navy Hotel. Artillery Company. Asia. Australian Bone Mills. Australian Labor Party (ALP). Australian Natives Association (ANA). Australian Sugar Company. Automobiles [cars]. Ballast ground. Band of Hope. Baths. Beach rail plan. Billiards. Boer War. Bowls. Boxer Rebellion. Boy Scouts. Boxing. Breweries. Brighton. Building Industries Congress. Building societies. Buses. By-laws. Cadet Corps. Canal for shipping. Census. Centenary Bridge. Centenary celebrations. Chamber of Commerce. Chequers Inn. Chess Club. Children. Chinese. Churches: Baptist Church; Church of England / Anglican (Holy Trinity); Presbyterian Church; Primitive Methodists; Roman Catholic (St Joseph’s Church); Salvation Army; Uniting Church; Wesleyan Church. Chusan Hotel. Cinema. Citizen Action Group. City status. Clergymen. Coal. Collingwood. Common School Board. Town common. Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. Commonwealth Government. Communications. Communist Party. Conscription referendum. Contagious Diseases Hospital. Coode Canal. Courthouse. Courts. Cricket. Cricketer’s Arms Hotel. Crimping. Crown Land. Crown Lands Department. Customs House. Cycling. Debating Club. Denominational Schools Board. Depression 1890s. Depression 1930s. Diseases: diarrhoea; diphtheria; influenza; typhoid; tuberculosis. District Roads Boards. Docks. Dorcas Benevolent Society. Drainage (schools). Dunstan government. Education. Education Department. Elections (municipal). Emerald Hill. Employment. Evictions. Excelsior Club. Federation. Ferries. Fire. Fire Brigade. Fire Relief Committee. First inhabitants, Davis and Storey. First World War. Fishermen’s Bend: general; early settlers; housing; plans for noxious trades; reclamation. Fitzroy. Floods: general; 1839; 1863-78. Flower Hotel. Football. Fountain Inn. Fowler House. Free grants. Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria (Ada Mary A’Beckett; Lady Forster). Free settlers. Freemasons’ Lodge. Friendly societies. Gallipoli. Garden City. Garden City Community Centre. Garryowen (Edmund Finn). Gas. ‘Gem’ (steam ship). General Motors Holden. Geology. Gold. Golf course. Government Aircraft Factory. Grazing rights. Great Britain. Gunpowder. Gypsies. Harbor Trust. Harbour master. Harman’s Engineering. Harper’s Starch (factory). Hibernian Hotel. Hobson’s Bay. Hobson’s Bay Fishermen’s Union. Hobson’s Bay railway. Hogan’s Flats. Hotels. Housing. Government housing. Housing and Reclamation Act. Housing Commission of Victoria. Housing Investigation and Slum Abolition Board. Housing of the People Joint Select Committee, Royal Commission. ‘Hygiea’ (steam ship). Immigration. Immigrants: see Migrants. Infant death rate. Infant welfare. Influenza epidemic. Kindergartens. Kitchens Pty Ltd. Labor government. Ladies’ Benevolent Society. Lagoon: general; first sighted by Grimes; size before filling; pollution; early development plans; proposals to fill. Lane’s Motors. Liberal government. Library. Lifesaving / Life Saving Club. Lighters. Lighting. Little Baghdad. Local government. Local newspapers. London Restaurant. Lonsdale Ward. Low Lying Lands Royal Commission. Lumpers. Macarthur Ward. McKenzie Funerals. McSkimming and Company. Manufacturing Grocers’ Union. Marine Hotel. Market Reserve. May’s Match Factory. Mechanics’ Institute [Sandridge / Port Melbourne]. Melbourne. Melbourne Corporation. Melbourne Town Clerk. Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay Railway. Melbourne Ports (electorate). Merchants. Metropolitan Progress Association. Migrants. Mission to Seamen. Montague (area, south side of Yarra). Morgue. Municipal Association. Municipalities Incorporation Act. National Schools Board. National security regulations. Naval Brigade. New South Wales. Newcastle Ward. Northcote. Noxious industries. ‘Ozone’ (steam ship). Pier Hotel. Piers. Piscatorial Council of Victoria. Plank road. Playgrounds Association. Police Station. Police bribery. Police conditions. Population, characteristics, death rates. Port development. Port Melbourne: name. Port Melbourne Unemployed Committee. Port Phillip District. Post Office. Poverty. Powder Magazine. Princes Bridge. Prison hulks. Progressive Political League. Prostitution. Protection League. Public meetings. Public Works Department. Quadrilles. Queen’s Bridge. Quoits. Railways. Railway commissioners. Railway Pier. Railway workshops. Ratepayers. Rateable properties. Reclamation of land. Religion. Rent Payers’ Association. Reserves. Richmond. Rifle butts. Rowdyism. RSL. Sailors. St John’s Ambulance. St Kilda. St Kilda Road. Sale of land. Sand carting. Sandridge: local committee; municipality; council; town clerk. Scabs. Schools: Church of England School; Roman Catholic School; Wesleyan School; Common schools; National School; Graham Street School; High (Albert Park) School; J.H. Boyd; MacRobertson’s Girls’ School; Melbourne Boys’ School; Nott Street School; South Melbourne Technical School; Boards of Advice; Local patrons; Teachers. Seamen’s Institute: general; Bethel; Mission. Seamen’s Union. Sewerage. Ship Hotel. Silt. Silt Enquiry Board. Slip of land. Smith Ward. Socialists. South Melbourne. Speculators. Spencer Street Bridge. State Savings Bank of Victoria. Stevedore Labourer’s Association. Stevedores. Streets: general; signs first erected; beachfront roads; toll road. Suicides. Sustenance work. Swallow and Ariell factory. Swimming Club. Telephones. Tennis. Temperance. Tolls. Town Band. Town Hall: general; building mooted; centennials; new hall built. Town Pier. Town Planning Commission. Trade unions. Trades Hall Council. Trams. Two-up. Unemployed. United States of America. Vacuum oil. Vegetation. Victorian Sugar Works. Water Police. Water supply. Watermen. Waterside Workers’ Federation. Westgate Bridge. Wharves. Wharf strike. Williamstown. Wool wharves. Workmen’s homes. Wowsers. Yachting: first regatta; yacht club formed. YMCA.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (in preface)
Staff of the Parliamentary Library, La Trobe Library, Port Melbourne Library, South Melbourne Library, and the Victorian Ministry of Housing Library. Miss Wendy Morris, Port Melbourne Librarian. Miss Fay Pohv. Terry Keenan. Norm Goss. Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria, Sandridge, Marine Lodge and local churches. Australian Archives, Victorian and A.C.T. branches. Victorian Public Records Office. Mr Jack Hoy, Port Melbourne Council. Mr Jackson, Town Clerk. Mr Jack Gould. Carol Hough. Jan Gales.