Demolitions and Change

The area of Port Melbourne has undergone turbulent change since it was first settled by Europeans in 1839, experiencing the effects of a crushing depression in 1842-43, then a boom in 1851 with the discovery of Gold in Victoria. Much of this initial prosperity was due to its location as the landing point for Melbourne. Into the twentieth century, Port had a reputation as a working class suburb, still known for its poor housing conditions and noxious industrial activity. In recent decades, with the vacation of industrial processes and heavy shipping, social demographics have been rapidly changing. As you move through the Port area you can still see a truly diverse mix of housing stock and commercial activity today. However demolitions have also been a frequent occurrence as large areas of the suburb have been demolished to make way for housing developments such as Beacon Cove. With planned changes to Fishermans Bend, the area will witness significant change again soon.

by pastportproject