melbourne

A Pictorial Look at

Victoria's Yesterdays


Railway Bridge, Yarra River, Richmond, Melbourne

I dedicate this page to my late paternal grandfather,
William Buckingham Seamons, born 31 December, 1884
at Franklinford, Victoria, Australia.
He married Mary Ann (Annie) Arkley at Melbourne, Australia, on 17 September, 1913.
After residing for a number of years in Moonee Ponds they later moved to
Ashburton, Victoria, where he died 29 November 1964.
William and Annie had 3 children.
Amongst his treasured possessions collected throughout his eventful life was an album of magnificent postcards from all corners of the globe. Allow me to share just a few of them with you.

Looking Northwards across Princes Bridge towards City

MELBOURNE

Europeans first settled Melbourne on the banks of the Yarra River in 1835 when it was part of the British colony New South Wales.

In 1851, the colony of Victoria was separated from New South Wales and this area became the Australian state of Victoria.

Federated as a Nation with Australia's other states and territories in 1901.

Melbourne was founded by our first settlers from the Enterprise on the north bank of the Yarra River on August 30, 1835 and named after the then British Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne.

Laid out in a symmetrical, rectangular grid, with wide streets and an abundance of parks and gardens, Melbourne gained a reputation as the 'Garden City', something it has proudly maintained.

Overhead Railway, Spencer Street

Melbourne Town Hall

After less than 50 years of settlement, the British journalist George Augustus Sala, dubbed it 'Marvellous Melbourne'. Already it was a bustling centre of arts and crafts, strolling players, theatre and gracious living. Even then, there was an air of a city going places, a mood intensified by the public announcements of gold discoveries, in country Victoria, in 1851.

Thousands flocked to the city, and it was commonplace to see red-shirted miners, and their sophisticated ladies, playing skittles with empty champagne bottles in the crisp

Federal Parliament House, is at the east end of Bourke Street, in Spring Street. It was originally the home of the Victorian Parliament, who, on the advent of Federation, freely gave place to the representatives of the Commonwealth. Many interesting ceremonies have taken place on its steps, the last (at the time of this photograph) being the Memorial Service to the late King Edward VII.

Parliament House

During the time of Queen Victoria, the city saw the building of exquisite examples of the architecture of the era. Today, the many remaining buildings are protected and loved by the community, and most, with their intricately designed wrought iron balconies have been restored to their former glory. The blend of Victorian architecture with the sleek designs of our time is one of the unique and impressive features of the City of Melbourne.

Elizabeth Street, about 1900, looking from Flinders Street, where the tramline still ends. The shops have the elegant verandah awnings, with cast-iron posts, that were universal then.
Within a few years, these began to be replaced by awnings suspended from steel tension rods.

Victoria Market today is still a favourite shopping place for thousands of Melbournians as well as a great tourist attraction for interstate and overseas visitors to this wonderful city.


Melbourne's First Tram
- Moonee Ponds

Essendon - Moonee Ponds

Rightfully claimed as the 'Best in the north-west', the active community of the City of Essendon is today very much the product of the gold days and the land boom.

Weary pioneers and gold seekers made their way along Mt Alexander Road to spend the first night out of Melboure at a swamp forming a chain of ponds. This stop-over was called Moonee Ponds. It was a stop-over that stayed; stayed to become an important part of Melbourne.

Although nothing has stood in the way of progress since these photographs were taken, long time residents of the City of Essendon will easily recognise these famous landmarks