Patrick Bonaventure Geoghegan

Roman Catholic Priest Patrick Bonaventure Geoghegan was born in Dublin, Ireland, and was baptised in March 1805. After he was orphaned at an early age some of his relatives sought to have him raised as a Protestant, however a Franciscan priest arranged for his...

Prelude to Eureka

As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Eureka Stockade much is being done to remind us of the events of 3 December 1854. Unfortunately a lot of what is said and done will be at the expense of the settlers of the Port Phillip District era. Dr....

Dating Family Photographs

Having published a book titled “Dating Family Photos 1850 – 1920”, Lenore Frost gave us some helpful information about old photographs. Early photos were the Daguerreotype, the Ambrotype, the Carte de Visite, Cabinet photos, and postcards. The...

The Barque ‘Lady Kennaway’

The next time you feel a bit cramped in a seat think of these poor souls. The “Lady Kennaway” a barque measuring 38 metres long, 9 metres wide and 5 metres deep arrived at Port Phillip with the following on the 6th December 1848. People: 191...

Batman Treaty – 175th Anniversary

On Sunday afternoon, 6 June 2010, a small group of interested persons visited the place where John Batman is assumed to have met with native chiefs at the Merri Creek, Northcote in 1835. 175th Anniversary Meeting at Merri Creek, 6 June 2010 The Port Phillip Pioneers...