Many people may wish to start their own research on their family, house or streets. Fortunately we now have some amazing resources available on line. Trove is where I would start especially since it contains a great deal number Newspapers such as the Argus, the Age and the Prahran Telegraph. Organizations such as the State Library Victoria are increasingly co-locating their information including photographic collections at Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/
- Sands & McDougall’s Melbourne Postal Directories – this gives the names of property occupants listed alphabetically or by location and street. More than 50,000 pages and 24 volumes of the directories are now accessible from anywhere in the world, and reveal Victoria’s rich social history as well as help identify potential land contamination from past industries. https://prov.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-blog/sands-and-mcdougall-directories-online
- St Kilda Rate Rolls, Voter Rolls – gives the names of all property owners. The St Kilda electoral rolls begin from 1864 and continue to1900. These are arranged in Wards - North, South and West. Within each Ward names are alphabetically listed. https://heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Research_resources/Online_research_resources/Local_electoral_rolls
- City of Port Phillip Heritage Collection – Most of the City of St Kilda Collection is now available on line or through the Emerald Hill Heritage Centre at 195 Bank Street, opposite the South Melbourne Town Hall. https://heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Heritage_Centre
- Melbourne Mansions online database – Lists houses, architects & owners built prior to 1900 compiled by the Architecture Faculty, University of Melbourne. Search by house name or street & suburb. It is commonly known as the Miles Lewis Mansions Data base https://aai.app.unimelb.edu.au/apex/f?p=198:2:
- MMBW plans – 1” = 40’ – Houses existing in c1900: shows allotment plan, house & garden outlines. https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/MMBWplans/access
- JOHN VARDY plans – Shows houses existing in St Kilda in 1872: allotment plan, house outline and whether brick or timber. Available at St Kilda Library & State Library. Web link: https://heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Research_resources/Online_research_resources/Vardy_maps
- SLV Databases – visit the genealogy centre. The SLV subscribes to various online databases that can be accessed for free at the library eg. BDM, www.Ancestry.com
- Newspapers – The Argus and other local papers are available online at http://trove.nla.gov.au/. For other papers visit State Library Victoria newspaper collection.
- Books – the following books will give you a good introduction on how to trace a house’s history:
- Harvey, David, What House is That?, Heritage Victoria, Melbourne, 2004
- Sagazio, Celestina, The National Trust Research Manual: Tracing the History of your House, Halstead Press, Sydney, 2004
- Regan, Des and Press, Kate, How to Trace the History of Your House, Penguin Books,1990.