Batman’s Hill

¨  Illustration of the changes to Batman’s Hill between 1840 and 1882 (J MacFarlane – The Illustrated Australian News, 1 April, 1980 [SLV Accession No. IAN01/04/92/13] Around 1836 John Batman built a house at the base of Batman’s Hill where he lived...

Christmas in the Port Phillip District

In issue 231 of the Pioneer Echo, we reflected on Christmases past and how the Port Phillip Pioneers’ nostalgia of ‘Home’ led to them to enjoy the memories of the past whilst developing new Australian Christmas traditions that would be passed on for...

George Coppin – the Father of Australian Theatre?

At the General Meeting on 8 July 2023, Port Phillip Pioneers Group Vice President, Elaine Race, introduced us to George Coppin.  George Selth Coppin jnr, born in 1819 in Steyning, Sussex, England, was the son of George Selth Coppin snr, surgeon, and Elizabeth Jane...

Life on the Yarra/Birrarung

Judith Buckrich Judith Buckrich has had a long involvement with the arts and literature and has written many books. Her presentation focused on the Yarra River which runs for 240 kms from its source near Mt Baw Baw in the Yarra ranges, to its mouth at Port Phillip...