History

The National Library of Australia provides an excellent historical resource in the form of a searchable database of scanned newspapers from 1803 to 1954. Here are some highlights relating to post aboriginal Port Melbourne (aka Sandridge):

1803 - Lagoon sighted by Charles Grimes
1835 - Melbourne founded
1836 - A Landing by Captain Lonsdale at the Port Melbourne Beach
1838 - Government Surveyor Robert Hoddle proposed a village at Sandridge
1839 - Arrival of the Liardets
1840 - Pier Hotel opened
1849 - The lagoon flooded
1854 - Melbourne - Sandridge train line opened
1854 - Swallow & Ariel biscuit manufactory opened
1856 - City of Melbourne's Macarthur ward proclaimed
1860 - Sandridge declared a municipality
1863 - Another flood
1867 - Duke of Edinburgh visited
1868 - Large fire along Beach Street
1869 - Frist town hall built
1873 - Gas company starts producing gas
1874 - Football club founded
1882 - Amalgamation with Emerald Hilld proposed
1884 - Sandridge renamed as Port Melbourne
1886 - Port Melbourne Football Club joins the VFA
1888 - The Port Melbourne Lagoon bill submitted to parliament
1890 - Cable trams start running along Bay Street
1893 - Port Melbourne proclaimed a town on the 23rd January
1899 - Port Railway Station built at Station Pier
1920 - Gasometer exploded
1942 - War-time brownouts

And here are some links to articles with photos:
If you find this sort of thing interesting, you should consider joining the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society; it only costs $15.
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)