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.

18 March 2025

59 Johnston St, Port Melbourne

March 2025

Site hoardings invite interest in 'seven masterfully crafted residences' by LAWD Projects. 


March 2021

The site has been cleared.

59 Johnston St, Port Melbourne - the site is cleared.

February 2021

Demolition of the building is underway.

Demolition of 59 Johnston St, February 2021

January 2021

On 9 November 2020 an application was made to the City of Port Phillip to amend the existing permit which allows construction of fifteen dwellings in a six level residential building. 

The amendment seeks to change the use to an office with a cafe below. The building would be the same height but one less level (5 rather than 6). The proposal seeks a reduction in car parking from that which was required for the residential dwellings.

The blue planning notice denotes that this application is for an amendment to a previously granted permit, rather than a new application.

59 Johnston St, Port Melbourne

November 2019

The 298 sqm site was sold on 1 November by CBRE by private treaty, price unknown. It has planning approval for a six level building designed by CHT architects.

59 Johnston St November 2019
2015

The site was sold for $3,210,000.

14 December 2011

Planning application 0580/2011 was approved for the construction of 15 dwellings and a six level building. 

Car parking was required as follows:
  • Not less than 1 space for the 12 x 2 BR dwellings; and 
  • The remaining car space allocated to one (1) of the 3 x 1 BR dwellings. 

1986

The property was sold in 1986 for $420,000.

14 March 2025

156-162 Thistlethwaite St, South Melbourne

March 2025

156 - 162 Thistlethwaite under construction, March 2025

A mature tree is removed for a cross over. 

July 2023

The site is prepared for construction by DCS Built.

Viewed from the corner of Boundary & Thistlethwaite Sts, July 2023



The BelleVue

Revealing its past and future - the corner of Boundary and Thistlethwaite Sts.


4 April 2021

Advertising has begun for the eleven townhouses to be built on this site. 

The development, the first in the observation of Port Houses, emphasises smart technology in all areas of operation of the home.

Architect: Caisson
Chief Architect: Craig Barkla

19 October 2018

H & R Motor Body Repairs have moved to Braybrook after fifty years in this location. The site deteriorates.



26 September 2018

The City of Port Phillip issued a permit, with conditions, for 12 townhouses of 4 levels at the planning meeting on 26 September 2018.

9 November 2015

'First time offered in 50 years.'




13 March 2025

279 Graham St, Port Melbourne

May 2019



October 2017

The site has been cleared and advertising has appeared for 'Prince & Graham'.




Storage tanks removed September 2017
August 2017

The buildings on site were demolished in August.


Demolition of Sandridge Motors August 2017 photo Jack Bolt
11 June 2017

The cars have gone. 

Michael Goldberg owned and operated this garage from the 1980s when he took up the business to be closer to his father, Dr Goldberg, who practised from his surgery on the corner of Bridge and Princes St.



6 June 2017

The property was sold by Dixon Kestles in April. Sandridge Motors is moving out following the retirement of the owners.



The site is zoned General Residential within Design and Development Overlay 1.4 which permits up to 6 storeys.

History

The site was part of a neighbourhood shopping strip established c1890. Small businesses such as a newsagency, dressmaker, draper, grocer and a confectioner opened at that time with a greengrocer established at nov279 who remained there until the early 1920s. 


The original garage on this site was owned by Mark Davis until 1948. He bought the garage from his father, George Washington Davis. The original garage was a two storey building with a residence above. 


It was an independent garage. Every petrol pump was from a different company. People buying petrol, or oil, could choose between Mobil, COR, Shell. 

(source: letter from Carl Davis to Pat Grainger,  Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society 2013)