RESEARCH TOOLS:

We are a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers (historians, heritage architects, researchers and enthusiasts). Our time is precious and our fees can be relatively costly (see fees sheet). So we encourage you to undertake your own research. Here is a list of resources that may prove useful.

• Sands & McDougall’s Melbourne Postal Directories - the gives names of property occupants listed alphabetically or by location and street (available on microfiche at the SLV, St Kilda Library & possibly your own local library).
• St Kilda: Rate Rolls, Voter Rolls - gives the names of all property owners (available on microfilm in the Local History Room at the St Kilda Library).
• St Kilda Building Surveyor’s Permit Registers (1898-1960) – shows owners, builders and project cost (available as digital scans in the Local History Room, St Kilda Library).
• City of Port Phillip Heritage Collection - talk to the Curatorial Services Unit on (03) 9209 6214. Or Search here.
• 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. Web link: www.mileslewis.net/melbourne-mansions.html 
• MMBW plans 1”= 40’ – Houses existing in c1900: shows allotment plan, house & garden outlines.
  Go to: www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/using/mmbwplans/understanding_plans.html
• 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).
• 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 SLV 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.

 When you have completed your work, we would very keen to obtain a copy of your notes and any other documents that you have found for our archives. The Society is gradually building up a collection of family, house and street histories. These will improve our knowledge of the area and greatly assist researchers in the future. 

If you require any further information you can contact me directly on 03 9525 3696 or by e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  I hope you have an interesting and fruitful time with your research.

Peter Johnson (Heritage Officer) 5 Feb 2012

This is available as a downloadable pdf file here.