Arts & Culture » History

Letting the fumes out at Southbank!

May 12th, 2026 - Robin Grow

One of the most distinctive structures in Southbank sits in the small park along Grant St, next to the yellow Vault sculpture, itself a work of renown for the district. But it is not a dwelling – it’s a ventilation stack to release the fumes from the freeway that runs beneath.

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Mapping Southbank

April 7th, 2026 - Robin Grow

In the years from 1970 to 1974, people in South Melbourne became used to seeing men in the rear cab of a ute with a large camera taking photos of the houses and other buildings that made up the streetscape.

Designing in Southbank

March 10th, 2026 - Robin Grow

One of the many stylish blocks of apartments in Southbank is situated on Wells St. Unusually, the four-storey block in a garden setting runs through to Dodds St, at the rear of the Malthouse.

Bond Store, Southbank

February 10th, 2026 - Robin Grow

In an area that contains numerous cafes, the Bond Store in Southbank, located at 1 Riverside Quay near to Eureka Tower and Freshwater Place, is one of the oldest coffee shops.

Tractors lined up in South Melbourne

December 10th, 2025 - Robin Grow

This iconic image shows a line-up of International Harvester (IH) tractors lined up outside Harvester House in City Rd, South Melbourne in 1941.

Massacre in Botanic Gardens, January 1924

November 12th, 2025 - Robin Grow

The Botanic Gardens are treasured by residents of nearby Southbank, but they haven’t always been peaceful. In the previous decade to 1924 the world was in turmoil, suffering the Great War and the Spanish Flu. But chaos was giving way to order.

The remarkable life of Edward “Weary” Dunlop

October 8th, 2025 - Robin Grow

Among the many statues in Kings Domain is one dedicated to Sir Edward Dunlop.

Up and away over Southbank

September 10th, 2025 - Robin Grow

People who live in Southbank are used to seeing hot air balloons in the early morning, with up to eight at a time. Each balloon holds about four people who start the day at dawn.

Hot water in Southbank

August 6th, 2025 - Robin Grow

In the 1920s City Rd in South Melbourne was coming into favour with firms in search of sites for warehouses and industrial enterprises, and it became a major thoroughfare after World War One largely due to its proximity to the city.

“Hold on while rounding the curve”

July 9th, 2025 - Robin Grow

The Melbourne cable tramway system was a cable pulled tram public transport system that operated between 1885 and 1940.

South African Soldiers Memorial returns to revitalised ANZAC Station precinct

June 3rd, 2025 - Sean Car

One of Victoria’s oldest war monuments has been restored to its rightful place, with the South African Soldiers Memorial officially rededicated at a civic ceremony in South Melbourne on May 25.

Boer War Memorial, St Kilda Rd

February 5th, 2025 - Robin Grow

When Australia became a nation in 1900 the new country was already embroiled in war. For some time, the southern tip of Africa had been shared between British colonies and independent republics of Dutch–Afrikaner settlers, known as Boers.

The Tea House, Southbank

December 4th, 2024 - Robin Grow

Perhaps the largest and tallest building from the 19th century in Southbank is the Robur Tea House in Clarendon Street.

Kraft cheese and Vegemite!

November 6th, 2024 - Robin Grow

Few foods have had the impact on the tastes of Australian society as Kraft cheese and Vegemite – and they were both manufactured in what is now Southbank at the Kraft factory in Riverside Drive.

In the mail!

October 9th, 2024 - Robin Grow

One of the major changes resulting from new technology in the past decade is the massive reduction of mail by post.

Garryowen – who compiled the chronicles of early Melbourne

September 4th, 2024 - Robin Grow

A major contributor to chronicling Melbourne’s 19th century history was Edmund Finn, commonly known as Garryowen.

Trees of Southbank

August 7th, 2024 - Robin Grow

One of the joys of living in Southbank is sharing the many trees in the environment – part of the 70,000 trees that make up the urban forest of Melbourne.

Marble in Melbourne

July 2nd, 2024 - Robin Grow

One of Melbourne’s classic interwar buildings is the Manchester Unity, which still dominates the corner of Collins and Swanston streets. Designed in 1932 for a major commercial organisation, it combines commercial gothic and Art Deco styling.