Port Phillip
Pioneers Group
The Port Phillip Pioneers Group (PPPG) exists to understand and commemorate those who arrived or were born in the Port Phillip District before Victoria became a separate colony in July 1851.
We recognise that there were perhaps 60,000 people here before Europeans and others arrived from 1803. We acknowledge the Boon wurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
Find Out More About Us
History and Aims
Click here to find out more about our history and aims, who we are and what we do.
The Port Phillip District
Click here to find out more about the Port Phillip District before it became Victoria.
How to Become a Member
Click here to find out how to join and view our subscription rates.
Future Events
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Meeting 2pm Saturday 11 July 2026
Speaker: Paul Balassone, Manager Heritage Services Melbourne Water Topic: Melbourne’s…
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Meeting 2pm Saturday 12 September
Speaker: Adam Wakeling, author of A House of Commons for…
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Meeting Saturday 14 November 2026
Speaker: to be advised Topic: to be advised Meetings Venue:…
Meetings Venue: Wesley Hall, St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, 253A Burke Road (cnr. Malvern Road), Gardiner.
Visitors Welcome. Talks are from 2:00pm. Doors open 1.30 p.m. Two dollars entry includes refreshments. Our meetings generally end around 4pm.
Zoom access for members and visitors who are not able to attend meetings in person can be found here.
The main illustration on this page is an imaginative reconstruction of Fawkner’s ‘Enterprize’ by Gordon H. Woodhouse, photographer, and Schell, Frederic B. artist, circa 1925. Source:State Library of Victoria.
How to become a member
Membership of the Port Phillip Pioneers Group is open to persons having ancestors of whom at least one settled or was born in the present State of Victoria prior to 1 July, 1851 and can provide proof of direct lineal descent from their Pioneer ancestor/s.
If you have not yet proved your descent, or are just interested in what we do, you can join as an Associate Member.