Alfred Felton and the Felton Bequest

Fundraising Officer and former Assistant Curator at the National Gallery of Victoria, Humphrey Clegg, told us the story of Alfred Felton and the Felton Bequest. Alfred Felton was born in 1831 in Essex, England, where his father worked as a tanner. He travelled to...

The Landscape of 19th Century Melbourne

Dr Gary Presland Describes Melbourne Prior to European Settlement. Dr. Gary Presland, archaeologist and historian, found researching this topic particularly arduous because of the scarcity of information available, but as he was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy...

Port Phillip Before Separation

A Report on Professor Alan G. L. Shaw’s Address to the 150th Anniversary Luncheon on 30th June 2001 July 1st 1851 – an important day in our history – the day that the Port Phillip District was offically declared an independent colony and took the...

Development of Melbourne’s Sewerage System

Paul Balassone and Robert La Nauze spoke at our July meeting about the development of Melbourne’s sewerage system. The fact that the system was designed and built so long ago and has served the Metropolis for so many years is testament to the skills of our...

The Old Colonists’ Loyal Address

The first visit to Australia by a member of the British Royal Family commenced in 1867 when Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., the second son of Queen Victoria, arrived in “H.M.S. Galatea” from England via the Cape of Good Hope. He...

Millers and Mills in Victoria

Initially wheat and flour were imported into the Port Phillip District mainly from Sydney and Van Diemen’s Land. John Batman had sown wheat soon after he arrived at Port Phillip and other settlers followed. John Pascoe Fawkner planted barley at Moonee Ponds in...