ESA MEMBER PAT GRAINGER IS SECRETARY FOR THE PORT MELBOURNE HISTORICAL AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY, which recently won a Victorian Community History Award. Their Postcards from Port: An Audiovisual Retrospective of Port Melbourne DVD won the Multimedia History Award. The project is described as
Nine thematic short films on the history of Port Melbourne are each introduced by a relevant postcard note. The unifying theme is the profound effect of the port on the suburb, originally known as Sandridge, from the time of the Liardets’ arrival in 1839. The combination of port and railway, constructed in 1854, facilitated the suburb’s emergence as a major manufacturing centre. Swallow and Ariell, for example, was one of the largest biscuit manufactories in the world. The films move deftly from the personal postcard to panoramic views, from family circle to subjects such as housing and immigration which are discussed from a suburban viewpoint and dovetailed into the national experience. The project displays many striking images and the clear narration is interspersed with comments from local residents. All participants, except for the DVD producer, were volunteers and the project has a highly professional finish. This excellent DVD showcases the history of Port Melbourne and the collaborative, dedicated work of its historical society.
For information about the other winners, follow this link.
For more information about Port Melbourne postcards, go to a story on the excellent Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation website.
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