Hastings - Western Port Historical Society Inc.
ABN: 35 495 397 462
Registered No. A0006589U

Local Historical Museum
and
Pioneer Cottage

The Museum is located at
Corner Marine Parade and Skinner Streets, Hastings.
Melways Map Ref 154 K 11
Telephone (03) 9781 1141
Postal Address: P.O. Box 223, Hastings, Victoria 3915.
email: shirleydavies101@gmail.com

Our 35th Coral Anniversary Lunch:

The Society celebrated 35 years of extistence at the Hastings Club on 13th July 2008 with 120 guests. The guest speaker was local identity Geoff Stockton.

Harry's House: Still an ongoing project and work is continuing.

Pictorial Books of Hastings and Area

Members and friends have worked together to produce two pictorial books with historical data and details about Hastings People and Places. Volume 3 due out soon.

HASTINGS PEOPLE & PLACES Vol. 1 is the first book published in a series of five volumes all featuring historic places and pioneers of the Hastings Western Port area. The book contains 136 pages and 62 photos, an index and retails for $25 *plus postage and handling.
HASTINGS PEOPLE & PLACES Vol II This book contains 133 pages, 60 photos of local scenes and identities, an index and is available for sale at $30 *plus postage and handling.

HASTINGS MEMORIES:

Hastings Memories published by the Hastings-Western Port Historical Society, and compiled by Susan Rowe, a descendant of the Mentiplay and Mirabella families, is a book with stories and memories, and is the result of contributions from 26 residents who were born, grew up and lived in the Hastings district or who are newcomers. Hardcover, 247 pages and indexed. Now on sale for $30 *plus postage and handling.

MORRADOO ABOUT NOTHING:

A History of Crib Point and Bittern: Neighbours in Destiny. This is a book about the Settlement of Crib Point and Bittern, the Railway, Naval Depot, Bittern Store and Post Office, Crib Point township and Post Office, World War II, Post war migrant families and the Fire Brigades of Crib Point and Bittern. Colourful softcover book, 176 pages and indexed. Now on sale for $20 *plus postage and handling.

Book Ordering:

To obtain copies of any of our books and *postage and handling costs, please write or contact:
  • Secretary, Hastings-Western Port Historical Society Inc. P.O. Box 223 Hastings 3915
  • Shirley Davies by phone on (03) 9781 1141; or
  • email your order to shirleydavies101@gmail.com

    • The Perrott Tree - See Volume II of Hastings People and Places

    Society members and members of the Perrott family participated in a commemoration ceremony of 100 years since the planting of the Perrott tree, that is now outside the Hastings office of the Mornington Peninsula Shire. The tree was planted by Alice Maud Mary Perrott, a great-grandmother of Shirley Davies, current President of the Society. The tree at that time was outside the Perrott Butcher's shop.

    Bi-Monthly Meetings - Guest Speakers

    General meetings are held at the Museum, Cnr Marine Pde & Skinner St Hastings on the first Monday in February, April, October, and December at 7.30 p.m. In the cooler months the meetings are held on the first Sunday afternoon of June, August and September at 2 p.m.

    Morning Coffees - Guest Speakers/Demonstrations:

    Morning Coffees are held at the Museum on a quarterly basis - 2008 dates.

    Wednesday 19 November 2008 10.15 a.m. "School Days"

    $5 entry includes small door prize as well as morning tea. All proceeds of Morning Coffees go towards the Society's projects. All Welcome! (Men, women and children)

    Reference Library:

    The Museum holds an ever-growing collection of local history books, as well as many books on World War I and World War II. There are a number of books on maritime history as well as ecology.

  • Absolutely Frank
  • Voices from Sorrento
  • A Short History of the Nepean Peninsula
  • Morradoo About Nothing (Crib Point and Bittern)
  • Our ReCollections
  • Merricks General Store
  • Ships at War
  • Echoes from the Front, Frankston's Avenue of Honour
  • Stories & Poems from Mornington Peninsula 5
  • Exhibitions" A guide for small museums and galleries
  • Amongst the Old Folks - Rye Cemetery
  • Robert Hoddle
  • Aboriginal Victorians
  • Colourful Tales of Old Gippsland
  • Encountering Terra Australis: the Australian voyages of Baudin and Flinders
  • Australia's Yesterdays

    • Listing of Books Available For Sale at Museum:

    Cnr Marine Pde & Skinner St Hastings

    The Museum is open Sundays 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m.; Wednesdays 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 noon; and other times by appointment - Ph (03) 9781-1141

    BOOK TITLE $
    All our Somers (by Bruce Bennett) 22.00
    Australian Aldershot - History of Victoria's first military reserve at Langwarrin 137p index 15.00
    Balnarring Byways & Memories Vols 1,2,3 & 4 Price per book 12.50
    Berwick Nostalgia - photos 15.00
    Fish Markets of Melbourne, The, (by Bruce Bennett) 154 pages, index 20.00
    From Conflict to Reform - personal reflections on formation of Shire of Hastings (by Doug Thompson) 159p no index 10.00
    Frontier French Island (by Ruth Gooch) 50.00
    Ham & Beef Battery - (by Bruce Bennett) 20.00
    Haphazard Quilt - Poems with CD (by Weston Bate) 25.00
    Hastings Fishermen - (Bruce Bennett) 20.00
    Hastings Memories - a book with stories and memories of people who were born, grew up or are newcomers to the area Hardcover , 247 p, indexed 30.00
    Hastings People & Places Vol. I 25.00
    Hastings People & Places Vol. II - pictures and information 30.00
    Heroes and Gentlemen, Col.Tom Price & Victorian Mounted Rifles (by Winty Calder) Hard cover 82p index 20.00
    Honourable Alfred Downard, The (by I J Hackett) 16.00
    Letters of Heartache and Hope (story of refugee family in Europe coming to Australia and experiences in refugee camp and life here - author lives at Hastings 159p (by Edith Torokfalvy) 16.50
    The Lady Nelson Log - small booklet 5.00
    Matthew Flinders' narrative of Tom Thumb's Cruise to Canoe Rivulet (Ed. by Keith Bowden) 20.00
    Mornington Peninsula Railways & their Communities (Ed. by Joan Patrick) 25.00
    Morradoo About Nothing - A history of Crib Point and Bittern: Neighbours in Destiny. (by Bruce Bennett & Arthur & Woodley) 176p, indexed. 20.00
    Mr Bass's Westernport - The Whaleboat Voyage (by Harry & Valda Cole) 35.00
    Old Piano Story, The (by Frances Octavia McCrae) 8.00
    Sandy Point - compact booklet of fascinating history of area (by Bruce Bennett), no index 10.00
    Snapshots of the Faithful - Holy Trinity (Anglican Church) Hastings 25.00
    Stony Point, the heart of Western Port (by Bruce Bennett & Arthur Woodley), story of Stony Point - maritime perspective and pioneering families 169 pages, index 20.00
    Stories & Poems from the Mornington Peninsula 10.00
    Those Courageous Hardy Women (by Betty McMeekan) 16.00
    Under the Pine Trees, History of Frankston Primary School (Davey St) 1874-1999 (by Dorothy Condon), 100p, no index 12.50
    Western Port Chronology, 1798-1839 by Valda Cole - snapshot of explorers & early Settlers to 1839 incl. Bass to Western Port, and French Explorers to Western Port etc., index 20.00

    *Postage and Packaging

    Postage varies according to size, weight of book and postcode destination. Please phone Shirley Davies on (03) 9781 1141) or Email shirleydavies101@gmail.com if you would like to order any of the above books so that postage may be ascertained.

    Museum Displays and Features

    Other features of the Museum include outdoor displays of equipment, Dad's Shed, 1864 Armstrong Gun, model of the Myrtle Burgess and the fully restored square sterner fishing boat Johanna.

    Some displays are permanent, and other displays change regularly featuring fascinating artefacts in our collection.

    Pioneer Cottage c.1900

    This small, weatherboard Pioneer cottage is typical of the homes in Hastings at the beginning of the 20th century. The back rooms of the cottage were built first c.l900 and the front rooms added on c.l905. This is an ongoing project of the Society. Adjacant to the Museum is the Pioneer Cottage is surrounded by a Remembrance Garden of Peace that was opened in 1995 as part of the Australia Remembers Celebrations.

    Dad's Shed

    Dad's Shed contains a fishing boat (wooden), cray baskets, machinery and other equipment that normally is found in a typical "Dad's Shed". There is much to see and visitors may wander around at their leisure to see the many features.

    Museum Hours and Admission

    Sundays 2.00 p.m.- 4.00 p.m.
    Wednesdays 10.00 a.m.- 12.00 noon

    The Museum is not open Good Friday and Christmas Day.

    The Museum can be opened for any person or group by prior arrangement at other times - by phoning the President on (03) 9781-1141.

    Admission: $2 for adults, children 50c. Members - Free

    Other Historical Society Museums

    Other Historical Society Museums on the Mornington Peninsula are located at Dromana, Flinders, Mornington and Sorrento.
    These are managed entirely by volunteers who are dedicated to the collection, preservation, conservation and display of items of historical interest.

    This page last modified 2 November 2008