Evolving Port

Port Melbourne and Fishermans Bend change. Houses are changed or demolished and new forms of housing take their place. Port Houses records some of these changes.

24 March 2021

275 Princes St, Port Melbourne

March 2021

The house was sold by Marshall White on 12 March. In a conversation with the owner builder recently, he said the family was heading out of town.


September 2020

Settled into the streetscape.



November 2018

All moved in and creepers growing up the Farrell St wall.




July 2018



The timber is spotted gum.

October 2017

Part demolition of the rear of 275 Princes St is underway. The front rooms of the house will be retained.


October 2017
Look at those bricks - October 2017

Planning matters

The City of Port Phillip approved application 112/2016 for 'part demolition; alterations and additions including a two-storey addition to rear of the existing dwelling and the construction of a new front fence' on 8 June 2017. 

The decision was appealed to VCAT which approved the application on 26 September 2017.

25 September 2016

Looking sad. Weeds in the clever garden beds on top of the wall admired a year or so ago.
Apparently terminal decline while planning matters are being resolved.


October 2013

The house was sold on 5 October 2013 for $760,000. (source Buxton)

Two disappearing features of houses - the Hills Hoist and the sleepout.

photo credit Buxton


July 2013

275 Princes St, Port Melbourne 2013




243 Graham St, Port Melbourne

June 2022

The development approaches completion. Removal of the scaffolding revealed a new house but in a heritage style.

The building is made of aerated concrete, and the mouldings have been stuck on to the rendered facade.

6 April 2021


23 March 2021

The house at 243 Graham St has been demolished. After the rain, it smelt damp and old.

Demolition of the house at 243 Graham St, March 2021


11 February 2018

243 Graham St, February 2018

This site will be auctioned on 24 February with an approved permit for a house with
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 2 bathrooms
  • a separate rumpus room
  • basement garaging
  • roof terrace
Should this permit be acted on, the fate on the houses on either side will be pretty much pre-determined.

17 July 2017

Planning application 480/2017 is being advertised for the demolition of the dwelling.

2 January 2017

This modest house was sold for $1,101,000 at auction by Cayzer on 10 December 2016.

243 Graham St, January 2017

Historical note

Henry William Birch, Harriet Birch, Aaron Waxman. Bill of sale filed in 1881. Refer PROV
VPRS 8350/ P2 unit 15, item 56956

20 March 2021

Emerald House, Port Melbourne

Emerald House on Station St

Emerald House is located on the corner of Station and Raglan Sts, opposite North Port Station, now Stop 127 on the 109 tram service. 

This photograph shows the same corner in 1907.

unattributed from Ormond Butler's facebook page


08 March 2021

218 Esplanade West, Port Melbourne

April 2022

Esplanade House

The project approaches completion with the addition of a door etched with an image of Port Melbourne's Lagoon Pier. 

The front door is etched with an image of Lagoon Pier


August 2021

25,000 Krause bricks are being applied to the outside of the new house. 

Brick facing the house at 218 Esplanade West, August 2021

March 2021

The frame is up for the new house.

218 Esplanade West, March 2021
November 2020

Construction has begun.

218 Esplanade West, Port Melbourne 

Architects Tom Eckersley
Builders C.L. Knights & Sons

January 2020

Blank canvas. Blank slate.

January 2020
13 December 2019


and in the evening

in the morning
12 December 2019

The time has come for 218 Esplanade West and the yellow roses.

preparing for demolition December 2019

the streetscape December 2019
2019

An amendment to the 2018 permit was granted on 9 July 2019.

2018

A planning permit was granted on 29 October 2018 for the demolition of the dwelling and construction of a two storey dwelling.

30 May 2017

When these inter-war houses built on the former Sandridge Lagoon change hands, they generally make way for new development.

This house, with two street frontages and adjacent to Edwards Park, is unlikely to survive.

The house was sold for $2,025,000 in May 2017. (source: realestate.com.au)

218 Esplanade West, 2017

03 March 2021

186 Dow St, Port Melbourne

November 2022

An application has been lodged for a single dwelling. 

January 2022

Town planning application 85-2021 is advertised, or re-advertised?, for a single double storey dwelling with a roof terrace.

February 2021

A proposal has been received to construct a single dwelling on the allotment.

10 September 2016

This rare vacant site was sold by Frank Gordon for $2,055,000. It has a 10.06 m frontage and is 30.18m deep.

The site was offered for the first time in 112 years.

The 'scarcity of land unencumbered by a heritage overlay' was noted as an attraction to purchasers.

186 Dow St, Port MelbourneSeptember 2016

The site has lain empty since 1997 - nearly twenty years. It was formerly the home of Jack and Phyllis Nicholls. 

Phillicia Batty was born in Dow St to Emily and Roy Batty in 1924. She was a pupil at St Joseph's School on the corner of Rouse and Bay St and later became a teacher there, probably until she married John Nicholls in 1948. It was the custom at the school for parents to volunteer assistance, and fathers would always serve as the sport coaches. In 1958 when a coach quit and no other stepped up to take on the footy team 'Phil' Nicholls volunteered.  She was an effective coach who was respected by the players.  (source: Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society 2021 calendar)